The International Olympic Academy, within the framework of the expanded educational policy implemented over the past decade, has been planning and organising its attendance and presentation of scientific papers in conferences, day events and seminars organised by Higher Education Institutes in Greece.

The outreach and cooperation actions with Greek universities specialised in academic fields (Education, Sports, History, Physical Education, Pedagogy, etc.) having an affinity with the IOA educational programmes, reflect the modern educational view of the Ephoria and the President of the Academy who plan a dynamic presence and a bright future for the institution. Thus, with this choice, the presence of the IOA in the national context constitutes a strong investment and an invaluable tool of educational influence in Greece, whilst highlighting the contribution of Olympic Education as a new academic field of inter-disciplinary cooperation.In the last two years (2018–2019), the IOA participated in nine conferences in Athens and in the Provinces. Particular importance was given to the conferences of the Northern Greece Physical Education Teachers Association, a scientific institution founded in 1954 which has developed a significant scientific activity in the field of Physical Education.The IOA attended this conference two years in a row with scientific papers outlining the social and educational approach to the 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Association’s conferences were accompanied by a wide range of sports seminars on specialised subjects of varied interest which constituted a distinct source of knowledge, as well as a field for discussions and exchange of opinions.Just as important was IOA’s participation in the conference of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, with a paper on the correlation between Physical Education and Olympic Education within the modern Olympic Movement.

The days of the conference were an excellent opportunity for the IOA to communicate with the academic community (students and professors) and brief them on its activities. At the University of Ioannina – Department of Preschool Education – Fine Arts and Art Sciences Department, within the framework of the 1st Interdisciplinary Conference “Sports and Art”, held under the auspices of the IOA, the topic presented focusedon Olympic Stamps from 1896 to our days. The conference was very successful, with numerous papers and workshops on Art and Sports.At the 4th Pan-Hellenic Conference of the Hellenic Educational Society – School Life and Education Museum – National Centre of Research and Preservation of School Material, on the “Education in the 20th century – School and Culture”, we presented the Olympic Education programmes in Greece.

The meeting with educators and scientists was particularly noteworthy in the light of their marked interest in the educational activities of the IOA. Similarly important were the scientific meetings in the framework of the day events organised by the National Olympic Academy of Greece (ETHNOA) and by the Vocational Training Institute (IEK) of Pyrgos, in Elis, held respectively on the subjects of the ancient Olympic Truce (ETHNOA) and the showcasing of the IOA as an alternative development advantage for the Region of Elis (IEK).Particularly important for the IOA’s communication policy was the participation in the Symposium with the title “Greece as an International Educational Pole”, organised by the NGO “STUDY IN GREECE” at the Harokopio University, where we presented the International Olympic Academy as an international destination for education, culture and sports. The “In the last two years (2018–2019), the IOA participated in nine conferences in Athens and in the Provinces.”

The warm response of the Greek and foreign participants was a clear indication of their great interest to visit the Academy and cooperate with it on future educational activities.In summarising the communication experience with the members of the academic and sports community, we come to the conclusion that the IOA and its work are not widely known in Greece, but there is a clear interest for communication, acquaintance and cooperation with the IOA expressed by the above mentioned community. Within this framework, the IOA, taking these parameters into consideration, will establish a direct cooperation with the Universities by means of lectures, so as to make its work and its identity known to the student population at large.