(ATR) On a beautiful afternoon along the shores of Lake Leman, the 64th Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) executive council convened at IOC headquarters in Lausanne.
The afternoon session began with IOC president Thomas Bach addressing ANOC president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah and most of the 27-member executive council. Bach updated the executive council on the latest developments on Olympic Agenda 2020.
"Olympic Agenda 2020 is making progress," Bach said. "There is a broad consensus for change among all the stakeholders, including the NOCs, the IFs, and IOC members.
"All the stakeholders have understood that we need to make some major changes to address new challenges. We have to adapt, and it is always better to lead the change ourselves."
Sheikh Ahmad, who took over as president of ANOC in April 2012 vowing substantial reform and modernization of the current 205-member organization, said it was an honor to have the IOC president attend the meeting.
"We are united behind Olympic Agenda 2020 and fully support President Bach’s commitment to making the process as collaborative as possible," said Sheikh Ahmad.
"Through our nine commissions and working groups, we are undergoing a similar process of reform, and I was delighted to hear during the ANOC Executive Council meeting that they are all making excellent progress ahead of November’s general assembly."
Sheikh Ahmad highlighted major topics discussed during the afternoon proceedings: approval of the Olympic rings in the new ANOC logo, the ANOC Awards Gala as part of November’s general assembly in Bangkok, continuation of meetings of the nine recently formed commissions, an amendment to the constitution requiring additional female members on the executive board, and the inaugural World Beach Games in 2015.
Sheikh Ahmad expressed satisfaction of the official approval of the new ANOC logo, which now incorporates the Olympic rings.
Sheik Ahmad also discussed further details of the inaugural ANOC Gala Awards Dinner recognizing the achievements of the NOCs and their athletes. The evening will take place as part of November’s General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand.
"The ANOC Gala Awards is a concept that we have been discussing for a while, and as chair of the ANOC Events Working Group, it is a project I am particularly passionate about," he said.
"The NOCs and their athletes are at the very core of the Olympic Movement, but their hard work and dedication is not always recognized. The ANOC Gala Awards Dinner will be a celebration of all NOCs and a chance to give them the recognition they deserve."
Awards that will be presented encompassing both the London 2012 and Sochi 2014 Olympics include: best male and female athlete, best teams, best coaches, most successful and breakthrough NOCs and an Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award.
He noted that IOC president Bach and IAAF president Lamine Diack will also be honored as recipients of the ANOC Merit Award.
The sheikh also noted that a motion will move forward to amend the ANOC constitution requiring that each of the five regions admit a new female representative to the executive council, increasing the total number of women from three to eight. Final approval will be required at the ANOC Genearal Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand, in November.
In December 2013, Sheikh Ahmad and ANOC established nine new commissions and working groups, a significant step to heed the process of reform and change. On Friday, he advised that the nine groups are making excellent progress and will once again meet in Bangkok, expressing confidence for further sustainable change within the organization and in cooperation with the IOC.
In regards to the much discussed plans for a first World Beach Games in 2015, the Sheikh said that multiple locations and possible dates are still being discussed with a verdict to come at November’s General Assembly pending approval of the various NOC’s in attendance.
It was also decided that the 2015 ANOC General Assembly will be held in Washington, D.C., and in 2016 it will be conducted on the sidelines of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The next ANOC executive council meeting will be held in Bangkok on November 5, preceding the General Assembly on November 6-8.
Written by Brian Pinelliin Lausanne
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