The emergence of an Olympic Europe, embodied by the Association of the European National Olympic Committees (AENOC) in the mid-1960s, coincided with a pivotal period in European integration, marked by East–West polarisation and the tensions of the Cold War. Whilst economic and political institutions struggled to transcend ideological divides, AENOC positioned itself as a unique actor, promoting an inclusive vision of the continent. How was this sports organisation able to play an active role in promoting pan-European cooperation, despite the conflict-ridden context of the Cold War? In what ways did its ‘grassroots’ diplomacy contribute to redefining East–West relations?
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Florent Lefèvre (2026) studied this question.
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