Alumni spotlight: Joiris Minneci – From LUNEX to the Youth Olympic Games

Joiris Minneci, originally from Cape Verde and Italy, graduated from LUNEX in 2025 with a Master’s degree in Sports Management and Digitalisation. Prior to that, she completed her undergraduate studies in Languages and Business Relationships in Cape Verde.

She is currently working as a Venue Manager within the Language Services Functional Area at the Youth Olympic Games. In this role, Joiris coordinates all language-related operations at the venue level, overseeing interpretation, translation, and linguistic support services. Her responsibilities include developing workforce schedules, assigning and training volunteers, preparing venues for operational readiness, identifying and mitigating linguistic risks, and liaising with other Functional Areas to ensure language support for athletes, officials, media, and international stakeholders.

Joiris highlights the Learning Academy as one of the biggest parts of her experience: “It has provided a unique opportunity to combine operational experience with structured learning, reflection, and professional development. Being able to exchange knowledge with other professionals while actively contributing to the Games makes the experience even more impactful.”

Regarding her time at LUNEX, Joiris notes: “I appreciated the practical, international, and industry-oriented approach. The programme is strongly connected to real-world sport management, combining theory with applied projects and case studies. The close interaction with professors and professionals created a supportive environment that encouraged critical thinking, innovation, and leadership development.”

She names Digital Sport Leadership as her favourite module, explaining: “It gave me a broader perspective on how technology, innovation, and digital transformation are shaping the future of sport organisations and events.”