Réka Veress is an EU sport policy expert and a committed person for the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) both at policy and at practical levels. Being the national EU-WHO HEPA Focal Point for Hungary, she has been participating in several initiatives in HEPA policy and practice.  

Currently she is working at the National School, University and Leisure Sport Federation as coordinator for the European Week of Sport and HEPA related activities. She is in professional contact with several relevant actors from the field of physical activity promotion in Hungary and also engaged in different types of EU sport projects that are aiming to result in a more active and healthy population. 

Her recent focus has been caught by the urgent need for environmentally friendly living, that's why she has been involved as project coordinator for the City, Green, Go! project -  led by the Budapest Sport Service Provider Nonprofit Ltd. - that aims to find green solutions for grassroots sport event organisation in urban environments. 

Matteo Zacchetti works at the European Commission since 1995. He spent almost all his professional life in the media or dealing with media and audiovisual policy related issues both in the private sector and at the European Commission.  A passionate of several sports – football, swimming, tennis, athletics - in 2019 he joined the Sport Unit where he is Policy Officer in charge of Professional Sport. He has been Visiting Professor in the School of International Relations of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He holds a degree in Economics of the University of Genoa. 

I am Urška Žolnir, and my story is a testament to success, perseverance, and dedication to the sport of judo. As a child, I was exceptionally active and curious, preferring to climb trees and create my own sports world rather than sit at the piano, although I did play it. I fell in love with judo at the age of ten, and since then, I have remained loyal to it. 

My judo journey has been filled with challenges and triumphs. I proudly wear the bronze medal from the 2004 Athens Olympics and the gold medal from the 2012 London Olympics. As a competitor, I participated in three Olympic Games, and then I transitioned into coaching the men's Olympic team, where I used my knowledge and experience to help shape new sporting talents. 

My achievements also include numerous medals from European and world championships, which are the result of my hard work and unwavering determination. I have been chosen as Slovenia's Sportswoman of the Year, which is a great honor and recognition for me. 

In addition to my sporting career, I have also actively engaged in various leadership roles within the judo community. For several years, I served as the vice president of the Slovenian Judo Federation and was an active member of the marketing committee. The European Judo Union invited me to join its executive board, where I serve as one of the three sports directors responsible for the development of coaching, competition commissions, and the organization of cadet competitions and European championships in Europe. 

My journey has not been solely sports-focused. After the Rio Olympics, I started a family and successfully completed a degree in marketing, social media, and PR. Today, I am employed in the marketing department of the Slovenian Olympic Committee, and I am also the program director of the Slovenian House in Paris 2024, allowing me to continue shaping the world of sports and promoting the values of the Olympic movement. My journey is proof that hard work and dedication always pay off, and I am grateful for every moment of my sports and life journey.