As MEMOS XXVIII moves beyond Session 3 in Romania and towards our final presentations and graduation in Olympia this September, it feels like the right moment to pause and reflect on the journey so far.

While there is still work ahead, there is also a growing sense within the group that we are nearing the end of something genuinely special.

Many of us arrived in MEMOS with significant experience and a strong understanding of our own corner of the sporting world. Some may have even arrived believing they already had most of the answers. MEMOS has a way of challenging that thinking fairly quickly.

Over the past three sessions, the programme has continually reminded us how broad, complex, and interconnected the global sports landscape really is. Different systems. Different cultures. Different priorities and perspectives. As we reflected during our opening session in Lausanne, the Olympic Movement has an extraordinary reach and, at times, a certain degree of chaos. Over the course of the programme, we have all experienced a little of both.

But perhaps the most powerful aspect of MEMOS has not been the content itself, impressive as that is. It has been the connections that emerge when people from across the world spend meaningful time together away from their normal environments.

Something special happens in that setting.

Trust develops. Conversations deepen. Different perspectives become strengths rather than barriers. Over time, what begins as a cohort gradually becomes a genuine community.

That sense of connection has been particularly evident during our time in Romania. Session 3 has provided another opportunity not only to learn from our professors and one another, but also to strengthen the relationships that will continue long after the programme itself is complete.

As a group, many of us have also come to appreciate that MEMOS may be one of the best kept secrets in world sport. Those who experience the programme understand its value almost immediately. The diversity of the cohort, the global perspective, the quality of discussion, and the emphasis on collaborative leadership create an experience that is both professionally and personally impactful.

With the continued support of Olympic Solidarity, the professors, organisers, and host nations, there is a real opportunity for MEMOS to continue growing even stronger in the years ahead and to further elevate its role in developing future leaders across the Olympic Movement.

On behalf of MEMOS XXVIII, we would like to thank our Romanian hosts for their warmth and hospitality, along with the professors, organisers, Olympic Solidarity, and everyone who contributes to making this programme possible.

Most importantly, we thank each other.

For the conversations, the challenge, the support, and the journey.

At the beginning of this experience, MEMOS XXVIII accepted the torch in Lausanne with excitement for the year ahead. As we now look ahead to Olympia in September, there is a growing sense that letting go of that torch may not come quite so easily.

We look forward to seeing everyone again in Olympia for the final chapter of the MEMOS XXVIII journey.

By MEMOS XXVIII Student Michael Kennedy of Australia