16th Olympic Forum – Romà Cuyàs Memorial 2026: The futur of major sporting events.

The futur of major sporting events

Jaunary 14 and 15 – Museu Olímpic i de l’Esport JA Samaranch

The 16th Olympic Forum – Romà Cuyàs Memorial will bring together leading sports figures to discuss the challenges of major sporting events, high-performance psychology, sports communication, and the future of Olympism. A reference space for reflecting on sport and Olympism.

AGENDA

Wednesday 14 Jaunary

Museu Olímpic i de l'Esport JA Samaranch

Innovation and Legacy of Olympism

The first day of the Olympic Forum will explore the present and future of Olympism and the management of major sporting events. The opening session features a keynote by Juan Antonio Samaranch on the future of Olympism, followed by a roundtable discussing public-private collaboration in organizing sports events. After a break, the economic and social impact of the 37th America’s Cup in Catalonia will be presented, concluding with a debate on federation management during major competitions, featuring prominent representatives from Spanish sports federations.
Thursday 15 Jaunary

Museu Olímpic i de l'Esport JA Samaranch

Mind and Performance

he second day of the Olympic Forum will focus on the psychological dimension of major sporting events. It will begin with a keynote on the psychological factor in high-level sports, followed by a roundtable discussing the relationship between mental balance and sporting success, with the participation of leading athletes and experts. The day will conclude with a special conversation exploring experiences and reflections on management and mindset in sports.
SAVE THE DATE

Sessions

It is mandatory to sign up for any of the sessions.

INNOVATION AND LEGACY OF OLYMPISM: The first day of the Olympic Forum will explore the present and future of Olympism and the management of major sporting events.

WELLCOME

    PRESENTATION "The Future of Olympism"
    A detailed analysis of the criteria used by the International Olympic Committee to manage the Games, alongside a reflection on the trends and challenges that will shape the evolution of Olympism in the coming decades.
    ROUND TABLE: “Public–private collaboration in the organization of major sporting events.”
    Using the Grand Départ of the 2026 Tour de France as an example, experts and representatives will discuss the key factors in organizing a major sporting event in Barcelona, analyzing the benefits it brings to the city in terms of sports, tourism, economy, and international exposure.
    PRESENTATION “Economic and social impact in Catalonia of the 37th America’s Cup, Barcelona 2024.”
    A study by the University of Barcelona (UB) presents an analysis of the effects of organizing major sporting events, focusing on the organization of the 2024 America’s Cup held in Barcelona.
    ROUND TABLE: “Federative management in major sporting events”

    Sports leaders share their experience in organizing a major event. They address challenges, coordination among different actors, logistical issues, and key learnings to ensure that the competition is a success from day one.

MIND AND PERFORMANCE: The second day of the Olympic Forum will focus on the psychological dimension of major sporting events.
    PRESENTATION “The psychological factor in major sporting events.”
    A renowned psychologist will discuss how athletes manage pressure in competitions that often define their careers. Mental strategies, stress management, and emotional preparation to perform at their best in the most demanding sporting environments.
    ROUND TABLE: “Mental balance and sporting success: a necessary conversation”
    Top athletes share first-hand how they prepare for major competitions: from physical training and psychological preparation to emotional management. They also reflect on the challenge of returning to “normality” after moments that can shape their sporting career.
    “A talk with…”
    Experts analyze how the media cover major events and how organizers manage competition communication, ensuring reach, impact, and audience connection.

  • Aitor Laguna (Moderator)

CLOSING CEREMONY

Please note that to obtain the CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION it is necessary to have attended the 2 sessions, equivalent to 10 class hours.

History of the Forums

The Olympic Forum is an activity organized by Fundació Barcelona Olimpica created as a meeting and discussing point around some topics related with the practise and management of sports.

We destine the Olympic Forum to the professionals of the physical education, managers of sporting entities, clubs and federations. In general, people who are interested in changes in the sports and disciplines to define the future of sport practice.

Activities that we carry out