The event marks 50 years since the moment that changed the history of gymnastics
Nadia Comăneci is the special guest of Sports Festival 2026. The champion who changed the history of sport by achieving the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics will hold a masterclass as part of the event on Sunday, June 14, at 1:00 PM, at BTarena in Cluj-Napoca. The event is organized by Sports Festival in partnership with Comitetul Olimpic și Sportiv Român, in a symbolic year marking 50 years since the historic performance at Montreal 1976.
Nadia Comăneci’s presence at Sports Festival 2026 marks one of the special highlights of this year’s edition and comes shortly after another major international recognition: she recently received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award at the Laureus World Sports Awards, a distinction that once again confirms her place among the legends of world sport. Considered one of the most important figures in sports history, Nadia returns to the attention of the Romanian public in an anniversary context of special significance, half a century after the moment that forever redefined excellence in gymnastics.
Nadia Comăneci:
“Sometimes it takes only a few seconds to change a life. Seventeen seconds. That is how long the routine lasted — the one that changed my life and the history of world gymnastics. But behind those 17 seconds were millions of seconds of training.
For me, sport meant more than the first perfect 10, more than the medals I won. It was about discipline, courage, and the desire to become better every single day.
I invite you to the Masterclass at Sports Festival, where I will share many more stories, lessons, and learnings from sport and from my personal experiences — things that can be applied in any field. It will be an honest meeting, an open dialogue, and, I hope, a source of inspiration and motivation for everyone who believes in the power of dreams built through hard work and passion.”
The masterclass scheduled in Cluj-Napoca will offer the public the opportunity for a direct encounter with the athlete who became a symbol for entire generations. The event will highlight themes that go beyond athletic performance itself: discipline, the pressure of major competitions, balance, motivation, and the journey behind a career built at the highest level.
Mirel Alexa, Executive Director of Sports Festival:
“For us, this masterclass is more than just a special event in the Sports Festival 2026 program. It is a rare opportunity to listen to Nadia Comăneci beyond the iconic image known around the world, to discover the story behind the performance — the discipline, the pressure, the choices, and the less visible moments that shaped the journey of a great champion. We believe the audience will experience something truly valuable, honest, and memorable.”
Organized by Sports Festival in partnership with the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, the event is part of a special series dedicated to 2026, a year celebrating the legacy Nadia Comăneci left to world sport. In 1976, in Montreal, her performance became one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history and transformed Nadia’s name into a symbol of excellence.
Mihai Covaliu, President of COSR:
“For Romania and for the entire world, the moment at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games remains a living lesson about what it means to reach perfection. She was not yet 15 years old, and Nadia Comăneci not only achieved the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics history, but she made the impossible possible, offering humanity pure emotion, perfection in sport, and a benchmark that continues to inspire generations of children.
In those moments, we all understood that excellence is not an abstract ideal, but a reality built through passion, discipline, and courage. Nadia embodied Olympic values in their most authentic form: passion, fair play, national pride, resilience, and the extraordinary power to inspire through what you do, reaching true excellence.
It is our duty to carry this legacy forward and to show young people that through hard work, confidence, courage, and ambition, they can reach wherever they dream to go.”
The masterclass will take place on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at 1:00 PM, at BTarena. Public access will begin at 12:15 PM through the smoking lounge entrance area. For this event, the first-floor grandstand on the Cluj Arena side will be open, and the ticket price is 95 RON.
Through this meeting, Sports Festival continues its mission of creating meaningful opportunities for the general public, where great champions can be seen not only in their legendary status, but also in a direct and authentic dialogue with the audience.
