What are the European Games?
The European Games are Europe's continental multi-sport games — the youngest of the major continental games, created by the European Olympic Committees and first held in Baku in 2015. The fourth edition, Istanbul 2027, features 26 sports, 22 of them aligned with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic program.[1] [2]
Who organizes the European Games?
The European Olympic Committees (EOC), the association of Europe's 50 National Olympic Committees, owns the Games; each edition is staged with a host organizing committee and the European federations of the sports on the program.[1] [3]
When and where are they held?
Every four years, in the pre-Olympic year. Istanbul hosts the fourth edition on 16–27 June 2027.[1] [2]
Since when do they exist?
Baku 2015 was the inaugural edition, followed by Minsk 2019 and Kraków–Małopolska 2023 — Europe was the last continent to create its own games, and the event has grown in Olympic relevance with each edition.[3]
How do athletes qualify?
Entry runs through Europe's National Olympic Committees within per-sport quotas; in many sports the Games double as official European Championships and — critically — as Olympic qualifiers, distributing quota places and ranking points for the following Games.[2] [3]
Why do the European Games matter?
Europe is the deepest continent in Olympic sport, so European Games fields are of world-championship caliber in many events; with 22 of Istanbul's 26 sports on the LA28 program and Olympic qualification at stake, medals carry direct Olympic-pathway weight.[2]
Who competes?
National teams of the EOC's 50 member committees — thousands of athletes, including reigning Olympic and world champions in the sports where the Games award European titles or Olympic quotas.[1] [2]
References
- EOC — Executive Committee awards 2027 European Games to Istanbul. Accessed August 2026.
- EOC — 4th European Games Istanbul 2027 confirmed with 26 sports on the road to LA28. Accessed August 2026.
- Team Ireland — Istanbul 2027 European Games. Accessed August 2026.