The proposals from the floor followed  a presentation on progress in the 2023 European Games - due to start in Kraków-Malopolska on June 21 - in which Hasan Arat of Turkey, chair of the Coordination Commission for the 2023 European Games underlined the challenges produced by Poland taking in more than two million refugees from Ukraine and the additional effects of inflation.

 Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) representative Peter Reinebo called for a new "sport expert group" to be set up to deal with future editions - a suggestion that received applause.

"We have been asked to cooperate with the organisers of the 2023 European Games we will, of course," said Reinebo.

"We have the same challenges and we have the same goals.

"But both the EOC and the Polish organisers, for whom we have the greatest sympathy, have had a very demanding process of preparation during the serious situation in Europe in terms of organising their sports programme.

"For the future we need a more solid sport programme focussing on the road to the Olympic Games and European Championships.

"Because of that, on behalf of a number of NOCs we ask for a sport expert group to be set up as part of the evaluation during this autumn composed of a number of Chefs de Mission to do evaluation on the sport side of the Games and also to make recommendations for its future.

"So this is a question to the EOC on the future of the European Games."

Arat replied: "We hear you very loud and we will take this subject for our report and we will discuss this for the future or European Games.

"It was not easy this time.

"We just decided to move to Poland two years ago, and after all this bumpy road - the war, the economy, and other issues, and some of the sports especially decided by both sides - and now we are heading for much better conditions for future Games.

"You can be sure we will consult all of you after the Games."

Arat added: “We have 40 days to go to the Games.

“It is a very short time and still quite a lot to be done.

“But I can assure you that that most of the big issues are by now settled and I hope you have the same feeling."

He pointed out that around 7,000 athletes from 48 NOCs will be involved, with athletics providing the biggest number.

“In terms of the number of sports, there are 18 Olympic and eight non-Olympic, and of the Olympic sports, 17 give full qualification for Paris 2024.”

The Norwegian NOC representative Marit Myrmael followed up the Swedish NOC suggestion: "I strongly support my colleague from Sweden regarding the format of the 2023 European Games.

"We have to cope with it this time and we will, but it is very, very difficult.

"And I feel sorry for our friends in NOC relations having to cope with this.

"We have to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

"It was too like this in Baku and Minsk.

"It’s too much to handle.

"This is something that can be addressed even during these Games because maybe all the sports directors will be there and they are the ones who know how to deal with this in the future.

"This is for EOC and not the Kraków organisers."

Arat explained that the work had been undertaken in uniquely challenging circumstances, particularly in the light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has led to Poland taking in refugees displaced by the war. 

"Dear friends," he responded to criticism, "your comments are very valuable to us.

"But you need to know one thing, which is a very, very difficult for situation for all of us, especially after the war.

"Poland received more than two million refugees from Ukraine.

"It was a big, hectic situation.

“During this time we didn’t ask the Polish side to build new venues.

"Then we have besides we have European federations, some European federations having discussions with international federations, some federations try to have their own European Championships.

"And now we see what we have and we look at our sport analysis for the new future Games.

"But be sure that people are working so hard.

"We can make some mistakes, we can have some information difficulties.

"But now with 40 days to go to the start of the Games I feel very positive about what the Polish side have done up to now.

"We are ready to make the fine tuning.

"Now let’s think very positive.

"If we have an oversight of anything on the practical side please let us know.

"We are not perfect, but we are learning."

Marcin Nowak, President of the 2023 European Games Organising Committee, added: "Last week we checked all the venues.

"Three still under organisation, but I am sure that at the end of May they will be ready.

"And at the beginning of next month we begin to build temporary venues for the canoeing.

"Everything is ready for the Games.

“We are a little bit jealous we didn’t have as much time as Paris 2024 but we are on schedule for the right time and right place.

“We will deliver as good a quality as we expected in the beginning.

“I want to thank Hasan for his help, and his brave decisions, some of which had to be quick decisions.

“Of course we have some difficulties because of the war in Ukraine, and the current inflation, but we are ready.

“We want to share the fact that Poland is still a beautiful, safe and  very pleasant country.

“For the next 40 days our calendar will be full and you can be sure we will work 24-7.

“Having the boxing competition with the rank of European Continental qualification – with 44 direct qualifications to Paris 2024 – is a great opportunity to show the importance of European Games competition.

“Europe has now got its own very big and top quality event.”