- NILE is an international leadership education program for sports leaders aiming to take on roles in European and international sport. It runs from January to September.
- Established: 2013 by the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports and supported by Olympic Solidatity since 2016.
- Partner countries from 2027: Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
- Program content includes international sports governance, strategic goal-setting, personal branding, persuasive communication, stakeholder engagement, lobbying, public speaking, cross-cultural competence and international sports policy.
- The programme consists of four seminars. The first are locally held seminars, in Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Papendal, Vilnius, Lausanne and Bosön/Stockholm. After the first seminar, each country can appoint 2-5 participants who can continue with the rest of the education.
- One of the seminars is held in Lausanne where the participants connect with the IOC, international organizations, international federations and peers from the German LEAP program.
- Participants who complete the full programme receive a diploma confirming that they have completed the Nordic International Leadership Education.
NILE
Cooperation between eight NOCs to strengthen the pipeline of international sports leaders
The Nordic International Leadership Education, NILE - a programme run since 2013 among Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands, is expanding its international reach. From 2027, the Baltic Olympic Committees of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will become full participants in the program and join the existing partner countries on equal terms.
The Nordic International Leadership Education, NILE - a programme run since 2013 among Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands, is expanding its international reach. From 2027, the Baltic Olympic Committees of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will become full participants in the program and join the existing partner countries on equal terms.
From 2027, the Baltic NOCs will become full partners in the Nordic International Leadership Education, further strengthening the development of leaders ready to contribute to the IOC, EOC, international federations and global sport.
A memorandum of understanding was officially signed by the now eight member associations on June 12 at the EOC general assembly in Budapest, Hungary.
Raitis Keselis, Secretary General of the Latvian Olympic Committee:
“Joining NILE as a full partner is an important step for Latvia and for the Baltic region. We have talented sports leaders and former athletes with the ambition to contribute internationally. Through NILE, they will gain the preparation, network and confidence needed not only to pursue positions in European and international sport, but to bring real value to the organizations and the sports organizations they will serve. Furthermore, this step significantly strengthens the closer cooperation between the Baltic and Nordic Olympic movements across all areas, extending far beyond sports education alone”
Important step
The inclusion of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania marks an important step for a program that has, since 2013, prepared high-potential sports leaders for international roles in the Olympic Movement, European sport and international federations.
Sondre Sande Gullord, 2. Vice president, the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports:
“When NILE was first created by the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports as a national programme, the ambition was to better prepare sports leaders for the international stage. International organizations need people who understand governance, who can build trust across borders, and who are ready to contribute to complex discussions from day one. With the Baltic countries joining as full partners, NILE becomes an even stronger contribution to international sport governance.”
Well prepared leaders
The programme has ben supported by Olympic Solidarity since 2016. For the IOC, the EOC, international federations and other international sports bodies, the value of NILE is clear: the program helps ensure that future elected representatives and appointed leaders do not enter international sport governance unprepared. Having completed the programme, they arrive with a solid understanding of governance, stakeholder engagement, international decision-making, communication, coalition-building and the broader political landscape of sport.
James Macleod, IOC Director of NOC Relations, Olympic Solidarity and Olympism365:
“It is inspiring to see the continued growth of NILE and the strong cooperation among the participating NOCs behind it. Beyond developing future leaders, initiatives like this strengthen collaboration across NOCs and the wider sports community. By encouraging athletes and women to pursue leadership roles, the programme is helping build a more inclusive and connected Olympic Movement.”
Focus on former athletes
NILE is designed for sports leaders who have already demonstrated credibility at national level and are ready to take the next step internationally. Through intensive seminars, applied strategic work and direct exposure to international sports bodies, participants develop the skills required not only to win elections or secure positions, but to contribute meaningfully once they are there.
A particular focus of the NILE edition 2027 is to support former athletes in building a second career in international sports politics. Former athletes bring unique insight into the realities of sport. NILE helps transform that lived experience into international leadership capacity by combining it with training in governance, strategy, communication, lobbying and cross-cultural cooperation.