ISOH General Assembly opens in Lausanne

ISOH General Assembly opens in Lausanne

by Philip Barker

The 2026 ISOH General Assembly opened at the Olympic Studies Centre(OSC) Lausanne with a message from International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry who is attending the Asian Games in Aichi Nagoya.

“While much of our attention today is focused on shaping the future of the Olympic Movement, through our “Fit for the Future” strategy, we remain deeply committed to preserving its rich heritage and history. Please accept my best wishes for a successful and fruitful General Assembly.” Coventry said in her message.

“History is being written and we are holding the Torch high,” said OSC Head Maria Bogner in her words of welcome to the GA.

“I am happy we have this collaboration with ISOH. We really respect the work you are doing and you know that the OSC is here to support you.”

The ISOH Lifetime Achievement Awards was formally presented to Professor Jean- Loup Chappelet by ISOH President Christian Wacker.

“It is a richly deserved recognition of an academic career and decades of scholarship. A lifetime devoted to understanding the structure and development of the Olympic Movement.”

Now Professor Emeritus at Lausanne University, Chappelet had first attended the Olympics in 1972 whilst studying German near Munich.

He later worked for the IOC and travelled the world. He has become a familiar figure at the International Olympic Academy where he lectures on governance of the Olympic Movement.

“This is the crowning of my Olympic journey” he said.

Those attending the session included Dr Mouad Benouzekri, winner of the ISOH poster competition.

“This is one of those important moments when our international community comes together,” said Wacker.

“We want to have an active ISOH, I would like to encourage everyone to participate, contribute and challenge us,” he said.

“History is not nostalgia. It allows to question established narratives. History helps us to ask better about the present and future. The way younger generation are consuming information is changing dramatically, journal help us to build us help us to reach the next generation,” Wacker added.

“I would like to say a special word to thank  Maria Bogner and Yasmin Meichtry, Interim Director Olympic Foundation for Culture & Heritage for their support in organising the GA.”

All those in Lausanne were also given a fascinating behind the scenes tour and were able to see papers from the earliest days of the Olympic movement.

They also saw the collection of Torches, posters diplomas and uniforms and other memorabilia donated to the museum collection.

Since 1984, a team from the Olympic museum has travelled to each Olympic Games to encourage donations of equipment and memorabilia by athletes at Milano Cortina 2026. Some artefacts have already been put on display.

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