The EOC today marks one year to go until the Summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) returns to Lignano Sabbiadoro, with the event scheduled from 24 July to 1 August 2027.
Countdown celebrations of the milestone took place in Lignano Sabbiadoro, presented by Alice Gnatta, who represented Italy in Rowing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and recently won gold in the Women’s Double Sculls at the World Rowing Cup in Plovdiv.
Mayor Laura Giorgi was among the guests who attended to mark the occasion, along with the EOC’s EYOF Commission member Eros Bologna, representatives of the local foundation Progetto Autismo, and student Valentina Polo, who won the creative competition to design the EYOF mascot, Doro the lizard.
Plans for Lignano Sabbiadoro 2027 are well underway, with preparation continuing along the stunning Italian coast.
It will be the first time a city has hosted the Summer EYOF twice, with around 4,000 athletes aged 14 to 18 competing across 14 sports.
Lignano Sabbiadoro previously hosted a highly successful Summer EYOF in 2005, and next year’s edition promises to build on the region’s outstanding sporting credentials, as Friuli Venezia Giulia also hosted the 2023 Winter EYOF.
EYOFs bring together young athletes from across the continent, many of whom experience an international multi-sport event for the first time. They also provide a valuable opportunity for young athletes to learn about the Olympic Values and the spirit of Olympism promoted in the Olympic Charter.
Líney Rut Halldórsdóttir, EYOF Commission Chair and EOC Executive Committee Member, said: “We are excited for EYOF 2027 and the chance to return to Lignano Sabbiadoro for a second time 22 years on from its first hosting. It is an excellent location for this event in a beautiful part of Italy and offers our young athletes a unique experience of a multi-sport event. It is an added bonus that the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia brings further expertise from its hosting of the Winter EYOF in 2023.”
Lignano Sabbiadoro 2027 President Giorgio Brandolin said: “With one year to go until we welcome Europe’s best young athletes to Italy, our preparations are progressing well. Hosting the EYOF for a second time is a great source of pride for us, and we are determined to build on the legacy of 2005 to deliver a Festival that reflects everything this region has to offer.”