Inaugurated yesterday, the Forum hosts leading figures in Athletics and sports management
The IX edition of the Future Leaders Forum, formerly known as the Young Leaders Forum, was officially opened yesterday morning at the Parco del Foro Italico in Rome. Organized by the European Athletics with the support of the Local Organizing Committee of the European Athletics Championships Rome 2024 and Deloitte as a supporting partner, the event brings together the current generation of sports leaders with young talents from across Europe, ready to take on leadership roles in Athletics in the near future.
The four-day Forum was inaugurated by the Presidents of European Athletics and World Athletics, Dobromir Karamarinov and Lord Sebastian Coe, respectively, who addressed an audience of 68 promising future leaders from 42 European federations.
Following the theme “You as a Leader,” today’s and tomorrow’s sessions will focus on “Current issues in Athletics”, concluding with a day centered on “Managing the Future”. Numerous prominent figures in Athletics and sports management will discuss these topics, including Lea Sprunger, former European gold medalist in the 400 meters hurdles and entrepreneur, Alessio Gorla, Italian sprinter and tech entrepreneur, Esther Akihary, Dutch Olympic sprinter and Vice President of the Royal Dutch Athletics Federation, Donna Fraser, four-time British Olympia and leader in equality, diversity, and inclusion in business and sports, Scott Grace, National Technical Lead for Athletics England for youth development and creator of a renowned youth development program, Sasho Belovski, sports business expert, Karin Grute Movin, Vice President and Executive Committee Member of European Athletics and Chair of the Development Commission, Alessio Punzi, Head of Running and Mass Participation at World Athletics.
In addition to panel discussions, participants will engage in hackathons (organized in collaboration with Deloitte, ed), mentoring sessions and interactive workshops. They will also have the unique opportunity to attend the European Athletics Championships Rome 2024, experiencing the competitions firsthand alongside their peers.
These formative moments will not only enhance their technical and managerial skills but will also open doors to idea exchange, the creation of lasting professional networks, and the exploration of innovative solutions to the challenges modern Athletics faces. The sessions are designed to strengthen leadership skills, identify and enhance personal potential, and transform personal passions into significant contributions to their respective federations. Participating in this Forum represents a tangible opportunity to grow professionally and make a meaningful impact on the future of Athletics.