16 Oct 2023
The European Olympic Committees (EOC) is delighted to announce the creation of the Janez Kocijančič Award, in honour of the former EOC President who tragically died in 2020.
Kocijančič passed away on 1st June 2020, just three years after he was elected EOC President and following a distinguished career as a sports leader within the Olympic Movement.
He was President of the Slovenia Olympic Committee for 23 years between 1991 and 2014, and was posthumously awarded the EOC Order of Merit in September 2022 to recognise his outstanding contribution to sport in Europe and the values of Olympism.
During the EOC General Assembly on 6 October 2023, President Spyros Capralos revealed details of the award which will be given to the best female and male athletes of the European Games.
President Capralos said: “I would like to take this opportunity to announce the creation of a new award – The Janez Kocijančič Award. In 2020, President Kocijančič was tragically taken from us just three years into his great leadership of the EOC. We sorely miss him.
“During his life, he made a huge contribution to both the EOC and the Slovenian Olympic Committee throughout a distinguished career. The Janez Kocijančič award is a fitting way to remember him and will be presented to the best male and best female athletes at future European Games. It will be chosen by the EOC Athletes’ Commission.”
The first award will be presented next year for the European Games 2023.
Source: European Olympic Committees