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Brussels, 18 June 2025 – The European Multisport Club Association (EMCA) proudly participated in the official launch of the Sport Transparency Index, a pioneering initiative led by the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) and co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Sport programme.

Held at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the event gathered stakeholders from across Europe’s sport ecosystem to discuss the need for measurable transparency and stronger governance in sport organizations. EMCA was notably represented on the panel “The Benefits of Publicly Evaluating Transparency and Good Governance in Sport”, featuring:

Christina Tsiligkiri, President of EMCA and General Manager of Olympiacos SFP

Bojan Mijatovic, International Coordinator of HAŠK Mladost (Zagreb, Croatia) and Director of Development and Sustainability of EMCA

Their contributions emphasized the role of multisport clubs in shaping a culture of transparency and accountability.

The Sport Transparency Index uses 15 indicators across organizational, operational, and financial dimensions to evaluate governance practices in sport organizations. After a rigorous pilot phase covering 700+ organizations, the Index is now being implemented at a broader national and international scale.

Statement from EMCA President, Christina Tsiligkiri:

“Sport must lead by example – not only on the field but also in governance. The Sport Transparency Index is an essential step toward openness, responsibility, and better decision-making in sport. At EMCA, we are committed to building a future where transparency is the norm, not the exception, and we are proud to support this important European initiative.”

The European Multisport Club Association (EMCA) proudly took part in the #BeInclusive EU Sport Awards 2025, held in Brussels, celebrating projects that promote inclusion through sport across Europe.

On May 6, 1875, the Hungarian Athletic Club – the country’s oldest multisport club – hosted Hungary’s very first outdoor sporting event.

With the assistance of EMCA and its wide-reaching network, a memorable international basketball encounter recently took place in Paris.

EMCA member NPC Rieti played a pivotal role in arranging a friendly basketball match for one of its affiliated clubs, NPC Colombia, as part of an ongoing exchange program focused on youth sports development and cross-cultural collaboration.

The NPC Colombia girls’ team, which travels to Europe several times a year, participates in training sessions and development programs under the guidance of NPC Rieti coaches. These visits aim to elevate both the individual and team skills of the athletes, helping them gain exposure to European basketball standards.

As part of this effort, a friendly match was organized in Paris against the Paris Université Club girls’ team. The game not only offered competitive experience to the Colombian players but also symbolized the strong bonds being fostered through EMCA’s network of cooperation.

This initiative forms part of a broader collaboration plan, with similar friendly games being prepared for the male NPC Colombia team in the near future, strengthening EMCA’s mission to unite communities through sport.

📸 Check out the photos from this inspiring encounter below.

20 March 2025, Costa Navarino (GRE) – IOC (International Olympic Committee) has a new President – Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe! First ever female president and first candidate from Africa in the history of IOC!

“At a time when our world is so divided, the Olympic Movement can help bridge gaps, build back trust and showcase the best of humanity”, she said.

EMCA congratulates the new IOC President and supports strongily her message of the importance that the Olympic and sport movement should play in the polarised and violent global political stage.

Regarding her past, Coventry went on to compete in five Olympic Games, winning seven medals, including two gold, making her Africa’s most decorated Olympian. But it was out of the pool where she made the biggest splash of all. On 20 March 2025, Coventry was elected the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee at the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece. At the age of 41, she became the first woman and first African chosen to lead the 131-year-old organisation.

Since its founding in 1894, the IOC had been headed by nine men – eight Europeans and one American. Coventry, only the second woman ever to run for the post, prevailed over six other candidates in the first round with 49 out of 97 votes. “It is a really powerful signal we are truly global and evolved into an organisation open to diversity,” she said.

Born on 16 September 1983 in Harare, Coventry learned to swim at age 2, taught by her mother and grandfather. She joined her first swimming club at 6 and quickly developed a competitive streak. Without indoor pools, she played other sports in winter, including field hockey, cross-country, and tennis, but swimming remained her passion.

Coventry’s big breakthrough came four years later in Athens, where she won three medals, including Zimbabwe’s first individual Olympic gold in the 200m backstroke. “Standing on the podium was quite surreal,” she said. “I was thinking back to when I was 9 years old. I was now nearly 21 and realised I had finally achieved my goal and my dream.”

Returning to Zimbabwe, she was met with a rapturous hero’s welcome, a powerful symbol at a time when the country was torn by internal strife. “Zimbabweans came out to thank me and say, ‘We’re so proud.’ It showed me how powerful sport can be to break down barriers and bring people together.”

It was a memory that shaped Coventry’s IOC presidential campaign, a message she shared in her presentation to members in January. “The transformative power of sport – that’s not just something I’ve said, but I’ve actually lived it and seen it. And I believe in it,” she said.

Statement by EMCA President Christina Tsiligkiri:

“The election of Kirsty Coventry as President of the International Olympic Committee marks a historic milestone not only for the Olympic Movement but for the entire global sports community. As the first woman and the first African to assume the IOC presidency, Coventry symbolizes the power of inclusion, progress, and hope.

Her personal journey – from the Olympic pools to the highest level of international sports leadership – is living proof that sport can transform lives, societies, and mindsets. EMCA firmly supports her vision of sport as a unifying force that bridges divides and strengthens social cohesion.

Having a woman in such a high-ranking leadership position sends a powerful message about the direction global sport must take: toward genuine equality, inclusion, and the recognition of women’s contributions at all levels. Kirsty Coventry’s election inspires and encourages new generations of women to actively pursue decision-making roles and stands as a beacon for all of us who believe in the transformative power of sport as a catalyst for social progress.”