Colombo, 29 December 2025 – The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC Sri Lanka) marked a milestone in international sports education with the participation of a four member Sri Lankan delegation at the 37th KSOC Olympic Academy, held from 21st to 23rd November 2025 in Seoul and Yangpyeong, South Korea. The programme took place at the Taereung National Training Center and Yangpyeong and was organized by the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC).

 

The KSOC Olympic Academy extended beyond conventional learning, placing strong emphasis on solidarity, international exchange, and deeper engagement with the Olympic Movement. The 2025 Academy focused on the theme “Olympic Legacy in Taereung,” together with the special topic “Olympic Movement and AI – Opportunities and Challenges,” highlighting the balance between preserving Olympic traditions and embracing technological advancement in modern sport.

 

In support of Sri Lanka’s participation, KSOC covered accommodation, local transportation, meals, and registration fees for all Sri Lankan delegates, in addition to the airfare for one participant. This support reflected strong international cooperation and KSOC’s commitment to advancing Olympic education across Asia.

 

The Sri Lankan delegation comprised a diverse group of emerging sports leaders. Arumaikili Ravivarman participated as an Executive Committee Member of the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation, Rukshan Athapaththu represented Sri Lanka as the Captain of the Sri Lanka National Basketball Team, Ashmitha Gunaratne attended in her capacity as Secretary of the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka, while Vimoshi Nehasha Weerasinghe participated as an undergraduate from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

 

The Academy brought together 100 participants from across Asia and featured a series of engaging lectures and interactive sessions conducted by academics, Olympians, and sports professionals. The programme explored key themes such as Olympic values, the evolving global sports landscape, the utilization of AI driven sports data to enhance performance and development, and the integration of artificial intelligence with Dō philosophy, which is a foundational concept in East Asian sport and martial traditions, emphasizing the idea of sport as a lifelong path of self discipline, ethical conduct, continuous improvement, and harmony between mind and body.

 

Participants also took part in a “Live Olympic Legacy” tour of the Taereung International Skating Rink and the Korean Sports Museum. This experience provided valuable insight into Korea’s exemplary approach to preserving, celebrating, and institutionalizing its sporting heritage within the Olympic Movement.

 

Sharing his reflections, Arumaikili Ravivarman stated that the Academy served as a powerful bridge between Korea’s rich sporting legacy and the digital future of the Olympic Movement. He highlighted the value of exchanging experiences with international peers and expressed his eagerness to translate these insights into meaningful local action to empower the Sri Lankan sporting community.

 

Rukshan Athapaththu described the KSOC Olympic Academy as an inspiring experience that deepened his understanding of the role of artificial intelligence in modern sport and strengthened his passion to contribute towards technology driven athlete development in Sri Lanka.

 

Meanwhile, Ashmitha Gunaratne noted that the Academy was an amazing learning experience that enabled participants to share ideas and perspectives with a diverse group of peers. She emphasized that the group activities further enriched the programme and expressed her readiness to share these experiences within Sri Lanka.

 

Vimoshi Nehasha Weerasinghe stated that attending the KSOC Olympic Academy was a highly successful and transformative experience that provided essential insights into the Olympic Movement. She further highlighted the strong sense of community and the dedication of the staff as factors that made the programme particularly impactful for her personal and professional development.

 

Sri Lanka’s participation at the 37th KSOC Olympic Academy underscores NOC Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to developing knowledgeable, forward-thinking sports leaders and administrators who can contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the Olympic Movement and the long-term growth of sport in Sri Lanka.

 

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