The new Executive Director of the EYOF Organising Committee

Peter Hamaj will become the new Executive Director of the Organising Committee of the XVI. European Youth Olympic Festival, which will be hosted in Banská Bystrica at the end of July 2022. He will replace Peter Korčok, who has decided to resign his position.

Peter Korčok took his position after the adoption of a resolution of the Banská Bystrica Municipal Council and the approval of the Founding Charter establishing the non-profit organization EYOF 2021 Banská Bystrica on 6th June 2019. During more than a year in office, he addressed several challenges, including perhaps the largest one which came with the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in spring. EYOF was postponed to the end of July 2022 following negotiations with the European Olympic Committees when it came to the date collision with the postponed Tokyo Olympics.

“During more than fifteen months of work we’ve managed to put together an organisational team composed of qualified experts in various fields. I thank them for their excellent cooperation. I believe that together we have laid a good foundation for the successful management of EYOF in 2022,” said Peter Korčok: “I´ve decided to conclude my work on the Organising Committee due to the extent of my professional workload. It’s hard to combine all the responsibilities. Without the help of colleagues from my “home” company, the Slovak Athletic Association, and especially my family, this would not be possible. Originally, we set up a two-year cooperation plan and during this time I wanted to focus primarily on EYOF. Unfortunately, the coronavirus crisis intervened. There were changes in dates of events, the preparation period was extended from two to three years. I already expect to face other work-related challenges in 2022. Therefore, from my point of view, it is better to finish work now so that I do not leave the position one year before the start of EYOF. I will continue to try to assist my friends in the Organising Committee.”

The new Chief Executive Peter Hamaj is familiar with the activities of the Organising committee perfectly. He has been a Sports Director until now. He was responsible for coordinating the sports program. A graduate of the Faculty of Sports in Bratislava as well as Sports management and marketing in London, he has profound experience in preparing major events. He was general secretary of the Organising committee of the World Winter Universiade 2019 in Strbske Pleso and Osrblie, sports and competition director of the 2019 World Ice Hockey Championships, head of the Organising committee of the World University Championships in sports climbing 2018, he participated in the preparations of the World Under-18 Hockey Championships 2017 and the 2017 World Cup in in-line hockey. He is experienced in the world of Olympic sports thanks to his work for the Slovak Olympic Committee, the Slovak Paralympic Committee, and the British Olympic Association.

“I would like to thank Peter Korčok for his cooperation so far. The work of the Organising Committee is well-prepared, we will continue in these footsteps and trend. As the event deadline approaches, the organising team will grow more and more. We continue to work on all the details. Our ambition is to prepare the best conditions for athletes, so that they will leave Banská Bystrica full of excellent impressions and great experiences. I am always optimistic, I believe that we will achieve this goal,” said Peter Hamaj.