President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR), Mihai Covaliu, said on Friday at a press conference dedicated to the launch of the Nadia Comaneci Year program that a very special period lies ahead, stressing that the gymnastics legend - who earned the first perfect 10 in Olympic history at Montreal - deserves to be celebrated by everyone.
"It is a very special year, and rightly so - a year filled with events, because Nadia deserves it. What matters most is that everyone wants to honor her, to celebrate her, to pay tribute to someone who has done so much good for Romania. I was born with the legacy of everything Nadia achieved for our country, and I am convinced many children grew up with the same inspiration. Indeed, after 1976, that historic performance encouraged countless girls to take up gymnastics. This year we also have an important goal: to bring more children back to gymnastics, and beyond that, to inspire them to take up sport in general," Covaliu said.
He highlighted the legacy left by Nadia Comaneci's historic performance at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, a moment that paved the way for Romania's dominance in world gymnastics for more than four decades.
"The Year Nadia 2026 is an anniversary program in Romanian sport, spanning an entire year, with events supported by the Romanian Government, the National Agency for Sports, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, in partnership with the city of Onesti, as well as other cities and communities. And because yesterday was National Culture Day, and since sport is part of Romania's cultural and identity heritage, we can also consider The Nadia Year part of this heritage. The Nadia Year marks 50 years since the first perfect 10 in gymnastics history, achieved by Nadia Comaneci at the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976. That moment changed world sport and redefined the meaning of excellence. This year we also celebrate 150 years since the birth of another national and universal symbol, sculptor Constantin Brancusi. I want to draw a parallel between these two great personalities who represent Romania with honor and dignity. Brancusi did not sculpt mere objects; he sought to leave a legacy, opening doors for all who dream, who dare, who wish to fly. In the same way, Nadia opened the door to perfection for all athletes at the Olympic Games," said the COSR president.
He emphasized that through the Nadia Year program, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee aims to instill in young athletes the idea that perfection is the result of work: "It is not a one-time anniversary, but a long series of events in partnership with the state's main institutions, the Ministry of Education, the National Agency for Sports, and local communities. We also know that Onesti was declared European City of Sport in 2026. What matters most is the message we want to convey to younger generations: perfection comes from work, discipline and Olympic values. Nadia belongs to Romania, she earned the first 10 for Romania, and these achievements will remain for eternity. Our responsibility is to carry this legacy forward."
Covaliu also listed several events planned for 2026 under the banner of the Nadia Year. All actions will be coordinated by COSR, as decided by the government. The visual identity of the program incorporates the perfect 10 and the iconic flight from the uneven bars that brought Comaneci gold in Montreal. Covaliu noted that steps are being taken to also honor Nadia at the European Parliament, while a central event will be the Nadia 50 Gala at the Palace of Parliament on May 29, with invitations sent to the International Olympic Committee, the Presidency and key decision-makers.
Other highlights include the launch of the feature film Nadia in the second half of the year, an anniversary medal issued by the State Mint, and a personalized line of sports equipment dedicated to the Nadia Year, expected to be available from March.
Asked whether a street or square in Bucharest might be named after Comaneci, Covaliu confirmed the intention: "It is one of the surprises. We are working on this idea. Once the project is approved, we will announce it. It is a very beautiful and important initiative."
Another major objective is to encourage children to take up gymnastics, echoing the wave of enthusiasm sparked by Comaneci's 1976 performance.
"Together with Nadia, we agreed that the most important legacy is inspiring new generations. We want as many children as possible to return to gymnastics, just as the Montreal moment inspired a generation. The Romanian Gymnastics Federation, supported by the National Agency for Sports and COSR, will provide equipment to help children learn and practice the sport," Covaliu added.
On July 10, 2025, President Nicusor Dan signed the decree establishing 2026 as the Year of Nadia Comaneci, marking the 50th anniversary of her legendary performances at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, where she earned the first perfect 10 in gymnastics history. The law allows central and local authorities, sports institutions and minority organizations to organize sporting, educational and artistic events, with funding allocated from public budgets or other legal sources.
The 21st Summer Olympics went down in history as the Nadia Comaneci Olympics, forever associated with perfection in artistic gymnastics. At just 14, Comaneci stunned the world by scoring a perfect 10 on the uneven bars - a score so unprecedented that the electronic scoreboard could not display it. She went on to achieve seven perfect 10s in a single Olympic competition, winning three gold medals (all-around, beam, uneven bars), one silver (team) and one bronze (floor).
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