Mission, objectives and patrons

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) are committed to advocating for excellence in the visioning, design and operation of sustainable, universally accessible and innovative indoor and outdoor facilities.

Identifying and promoting trends for transforming communities and urban areas into places of active living as well as building sustainable facilities is at the core of this international competition.

The competition aims at increasing the accessibility of all sports and leisure facilities and architectural structures in order to offer all people opportunities to practise and view sport freely and without barriers.

As part of their commitment to excellence, the two organizations are inviting submissions for the 2025 IOC IAKS Architecture Prize for sustainable, accessible and innovative sports and leisure facilities.

The competition brings to public attention buildings and complexes that integrate:

  • sensible sustainability and public value,
  • exemplary accessibility and universal design,
  • strong functional planning and innovation,
  • exceptional architectural design.

This competition is organized by the IOC and the IAKS. The IAKS is responsible for its organization and staging.

Organizers

IOC Logo
IAKS International Logo fixed frames
Awards Gala Architecture Prize 2023

Prize and benefits

The facilities selected by the jury will be awarded the

IOC IAKS Architecture Prize for sustainable, accessible and innovative sports and leisure facilities

The prize-giving ceremony for the competition will be held at the 29th IAKS Congress in Cologne on 28th October 2025.

The prize-winning facilities will be presented to the international public with an Awards Gala Night and a high-grade exhibition at the IAKS Congress in conjunction with FSB, the international trade fair for public space, sports and leisure facilities in Cologne from 28 to 31 October 2025. Furthermore, they will be presented in detail in "sb" - the IAKS' international magazine for sports, leisure and recreation facilities.

The IOC and the IAKS will announce the winners in the course of their respective public relations activities (magazines, websites, newsletters, social media etc.) and communicate them to all relevant press across the world.

The winners have the right to use their successful participation for promotional purposes.

Competition categories

Entitled to enter the competition are newly built facilities as well as expansions, modernizations, rehabilitations or conversions of existing buildings and facilities as well as temporary venues. Submitted projects will be assigned by the jury in one of the following categories:

  • Community outdoor grounds and public areas
    Outdoor grounds, public areas, school and educational facilities for sport, leisure, recreation and touristic uses, e.g. for ball games, athletics, skating/boarding, urban trend sports - with small or no spectator facilities
     
  • Major outdoor stadiums
    Outdoor stadiums for competitions and events, e.g. for ball games, athletics and other uses - with large spectator facilities
     
  • Indoor facilities for sports, leisure and recreation
    Indoor facilities consisting of several building components or as well of only a single building component for competition, training, trend sports, leisure, recreation and touristic uses - with small or no spectator facilities
     

 

 


 
 

  • Multipurpose halls and major arenas
    Multipurpose halls and major arenas for competitions and events, e.g. for indoor sports and other uses - with large spectator facilities
     
  • Pools, spas and wellness facilities
    Aquatic facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, spas and thermal pools, wellness and health facilities, for sports, leisure, recreational and touristic uses
     
  • Specialised facilities for sports, leisure and recreation
    Indoor and outdoor facilities for special sports, leisure and recreational activities, e.g. for Alpine and Nordic skiing, motor racing, mountain biking, canoeing, rowing, sailing, golf, equestrianism and shooting as well as beach sports, free climbing etc.
Jurysitzung Award 2023

Eligibility

Entitled to enter the 2025 competition are newly built facilities as well as expansions, modernizations, rehabilitations or conversions of existing buildings and facilities. The facilities must have been completed and gone into operation between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2024. Temporary venue infrastructure / architecture (e.g. demountable or relocatable infrastructure for major sport events) may also be entered in the competition.

Designers/architects or owners/operators of facilities are eligible to enter.

The IAKS is entitled to disqualify any submission which does not confirm to the mandatory requirements for the competition.

Due to the current situation in Ukraine, the IAKS kindly asks parties from Russia and Belarus to refrain from submitting a project.

Contact