A month ago, the Winter Olympic Games took place in Italy. For the Luxembourg Olympic and Sporting Committee (COSL), such events require long-term preparation, often beginning years in advance. At its annual congress held on Sunday in Mondorf-les-Bains, the committee reviewed the past twelve months and assessed the state of Luxembourgish sport.
From a sporting perspective, 2025 proved to be an excellent year, with Luxembourg athletes delivering performances at world level. Supporting elite athletes remains one of COSL’s central missions. According to deputy director Laurent Carnol, the organisation is also looking to reform certain internal structures while advancing several key policy initiatives.
Their initiatives require close cooperation between institutions to ensure the best outcomes for federations, clubs, and the development of sport in Luxembourg, Carnol explained.
During his first ordinary general assembly as president, Michel Knepper highlighted the many sporting events and achievements of the past year. He also welcomed the growing number of athletes included in national training squads, attributing this largely to the excellent work carried out by federations and clubs.
At the same time, COSL continues to develop a range of projects and participates in international initiatives, he said.
To fulfil all these missions, however, adequate financial resources are required. Despite an increase in funding introduced by former Sport Minister Georges Mischo, budgets remain limited, and Knepper expressed his gratitude for that additional support.
Last year the organisation recorded a significant deficit, partly due to accounting factors but largely caused by the sharp rise in costs following the Covid-19 period, while revenues did not increase at the same pace. For 2026, however, COSL expects to return to a small surplus. Financially, the organisation remains heavily dependent on support from the Ministry of Sport.
Knepper emphasised that continued success at the highest level will require sustained backing from the state. He explained that while resources from international Olympic structures are declining and national sponsorship remains relatively stable, public funding will become increasingly crucial if Luxembourgish sport is to remain competitive internationally.
He concluded the meeting by thanking volunteers, the new Minister of Sport Martine Hansen, COSL’s professional staff and the press. Hansen, who took over the sports portfolio from Georges Mischo just three months ago, described COSL as a key and indispensable partner.
This cooperation has already been underlined by two formal meetings between the ministry and COSL in a short period of time, as well as ongoing exchanges between the two sides.
Hansen also stressed that progress in sport depends on skilled professionals and a strong network of volunteers, whom she thanked for their commitment. Ultimately, however, adequate funding remains essential in order to implement these ambitions effectively.
Hansen noted that additional funding secured by Georges Mischo has allowed the Ministry of Sport to increase support for federations, clubs, and COSL. She explained that a new legislative proposal on club subsidies is currently in preparation, which aims to create a clearer framework for supporting sports clubs.
This year, the ministry has also strengthened federations by allocating additional staff, with more than twenty positions or equivalent funding distributed among them, she said.
All reports and proposed amendments to the organisation’s statutes were approved during the general assembly.
