(ATR) International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach says the way to turn attention away from negative media scandals is to focus on living up to the Olympic values of fair play and respect.
During his keynote address to the ANOC General Assembly on Nov. 2, Bach addressed the multitude of challenges facing the Olympic Movement and the ways in which the IOC and ANOC can move forward.
"When we hear about these it is only about the challenges, maybe sometimes exaggerated, we should never forget the full picture," Bach said. "We should always put this in perspective of all what we are doing, where we are going, what our values are, how we are defending and addressing these values."
Bach led the ANOC General Assembly along with ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad who received a full round of applause signaling the support of the 205 National Olympic Committees in attendance.
Updates from the five continental associations of ANOCA, PanamSports, OCA, EOC and ONOC followed, with an emphasis on how each are increasing their NOC support programs. A highlight of the day was the presentation of the inaugural ANOC World Beach Games taking place in San Diego in 2019.
Reports from Olympic Organizing Committees for PyeongChang 2018, Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022, Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028 as well as Youth Olympic Organizing Committees for Buenos Aires 2018 and Lausanne 2020 were featured on the final day of the assembly Nov. 3.
Bach says this strong slate of host cities over the next 11 years is an achievement the IOC and ANOC can build upon.
"It’s an achievement which gives us the opportunity there to keep changing and address all of our challenges on a very solid foundation and very solid base and gives us the time to breathe, time to think and also the time to enjoy this stability, because stability in this world is maybe the most precious currency you can have and we have it."
After the assembly on Nov. 2, delegates attended the fourth annual ANOC Awards in the Forum Karlin, honoring elite athletes across five continents.
Click here for photos from the events.
Written by Kevin Nutley in Prague
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