President’ s Message. Harry Bähr, President of the ASPC
Dear ASPC Members, For all of us, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milan / Cortina marked a true sporting highlight at the beginning of the year. I sincerely hope that many of you were able to celebrate the success of the athletes you support and accompany in your daily work.
Since our last gathering in Helsinki, the Board has made intensive use of the time to advance our work. In doing so, we were able to take up and further develop several important initiatives proposed by our members.
The Forum on Elite Sport in Helsinki set new standards, bringing together 445 participants from 36 countries and offering a truly high-quality programme. It will remain a memorable event for all of us. Simo Tarvonen and his team have provided a comprehensive report, which will serve as valuable guidance for the preparation of our next Forum on Elite Sport in Belgrade. My sincere thanks go to Simo and his entire team for their outstanding contribution.
As part of the preparations for our Forum on Elite Sport 2027, we held our Board meeting in March in Belgrade. During meetings with the Serbian Minister of Sport, the Mayor of Belgrade, and the President of the Serbian National Olympic Committee, we were assured of their full support for the ASPC Forum.
During our visit, we also had the opportunity to exchange with representatives of EXPO 2027, where the potential presence of ASPC at the EXPO was discussed. A very special thank you goes to Prof. Siniša Jasnić and his team for the excellent programme during our stay in Belgrade and for their exceptionally warm hospitality.
Another key focus of our current work is the further development of the“ ASPC Strategic Plan 2026 – 2030.” We will present a draft of the plan at the General Assembly in June and warmly welcome feedback and suggestions from our members and supporters. This plan also includes the continuation of the Mike English Scholarship Programme with an increased budget, and we are excited to add a new category for Women Professional Leadership Management. The winners will be announced at our General Assembly. The work within our continental groups remains a vital pillar of exchange within ASPC.
Preparations for the Continental Forums in Portugal( Rio Maior Sports Centre), Guatemala, and Namibia are progressing well, and we expect them to generate new momentum for regional cooperation.