Sport Diplomacy Strategic Dialogue – Year of Nadia Comăneci

Sport Diplomacy Strategic Dialogue
– Where sport, diplomacy & business build partnerships –

April 23rd, 2026 – 9:00

Palace of the Parliament, Dimitrie Cantemir Hall

In the context of Nadia Comăneci Year, Diplomacy360, Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, Romanian Gymnastic Federation in partnership with Bucharest City Hall and the Senate of Romania with the support of Senator Mihai COTET—Vice President of the Senate will organize the “Sport Diplomacy Strategic Dialogue”.

AGENDA

09:00 – 09:30

Registration & Welcome Coffee

09:30 – 10:00

Official Opening

Mihai COTEȚ – Vice-president of the Romanian Senate

Andrei LUCA – Director of Cultural and Scientific Diplomacy Department – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mihai COVALIU – President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee

Elisabeta LIPĂ – Member of the Chamber of Deputies, Initiator of “Nadia Comăneci Year”

Ioan SUCIU – President of the Romanian Gymnastic Federation

Valentin PREDA – President of Diplomacy360

Moderator: Liliana Grosaru-Filip – Director Romanian Business Exchange

10:00 – 11:00

Sport Diplomacy – The Soft Power Connecting Nations & Interests

H.E. Ms. Lili-Evangelia Grammatika – Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic

Mr. Shaun RIORDAN – Director of Chair for Diplomacy at European Institute of International Studies. Vice-president Diplomacy360. Charhar Institute. Former British diplomat.

H.E. Ms. Laura Aghilarre – Ambassador of Italy to Romania

H.E. Mr. Gavin BUCHAN – Ambassador of Canada

H.E. Mr. Katae Takashi – Ambassador of Japan

H.E. Mr. Özgür Kıvanç Altan – Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye

Mr. Zhou Xiang – Minister Counsellor, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China

11:00 – 11:15

Coffee Break & Networking

11:15 – 12:00

Sport, Business and Society: Partnerships for Excellence

Ciprian-Constantin PARASCHIV – President of the Sport and Youth Committee, Chamber of Deputies

Carmen TOCALĂ – President of the Romanian Basket Federation

Sorin PREDA – CEO, Global Vision

Nasty VLĂDOIU – President of the Union of Bilateral Chambers Of Commerce

Virgil STĂNESCU – President Sports HUB International

Moderator: Florina GRIGORAȘ – Sport Diplomacy Director, Diplomacy360

12:00 – 13:00

Turning Dialogue into Partnerships for 2026 and Beyond

Open dialogue between national & international organisations engaging with the Romanian Gymnastic Federation for partnerships during 2026 Nadia Comaneci Year and beyond

13:00 – 14:00

Networking, coffee and pastries

Kindly confirm your attendance before April 21st.

Registration & Welcome coffee from 9:00, Opening remarks from 9:30.

Registration form

“Sport has the power to change the world.
It has the power to inspire.
It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.”
– Nelson Mandela –