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On February 20th 2014, the students of the MSc in Sports Industry Management travelled to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland, and met with EMLYON alumnus Antoine GOETSCHY, Head of Youth Olympic Games Coordination and Bid Cities Relations, at the IOC.

In a privileged setting, Antoine GOETSCHY explained the committee’s role, value and mission to the students and discussed the current economic and social challenges of the IOC.  The objective of the IOC is to manage the stakeholders (Athletes, Olympic family, International Sports Federations etc.), organize all aspects of the Olympic Games, monitor the games once started etc. Today, the IOC, considered to be the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement, faces essential challenges including the fight against doping and illegal betting and aims at becoming more engaged with communities fostering youth and the sports industry.

The visit of the IOC was very interesting. We talked openly about the different Olympic Games (winter, summer, youth) organised by the committee and we discovered the different steps of an organization bid, the election, and then the preparation of the event itself. Antoine Goetschy was very open to our different questions and brought answers to our different requests.We went on to visit the Olympic Museum where we discovered and learned about the ancient and modern history of the Olympic Games. The museum is a great way to explore more in depth the rehabilitation by Pierre de Coubertin in the late 19th century, and then the different changes that occurred during the 20th century. Our tour guide also shared some insightful stories related to the Olympic Games and its athletes! –Matthieu Prudhomme, a current student of the MSc in Sports Industry Management

Antoine Goetschy is a World Champion in Canoeing, a Boat designer and has been working for the IOC for seven years now. Thanks to his educational background, as EMLYON alumnus, and professional experience in the sports industry, Antoine gave the students a solid insight into what working in an international sports federation entails and what social, political and economic challenges are currently at stake within the industry.

The students also visited the Olympic Museum, which has recently been renovated with the aim to become one of the greatest museums of the 21st century.