Seoul, Korea, October 20, 2022: The Association of National Olympic Committees elected a new President and Senior Vice President for the term 2022-2026 at the 26th ANOC General Assembly in Seoul on Thursday.
Dr. Robin Mitchell of Fiji, who had served as Acting ANOC President since 2018, was elected President in a secret ballot by securing 177 of the 184 votes cast – 97.25 per cent.
His Senior Vice President for the next four years will be HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee. He was nominated for the post by the Olympic Council of Asia and received 166 of the 177 votes cast by delegates in the hall and also online.
Swapping his role from Acting President to President, Dr. Mitchell said: “It has been a pleasure working with the National Olympic Committees and I look forward to working with you for the next four years - and I am sure we can have fun doing that.”
Sheikh Joaan was nominated by the OCA for Vice President for Asia and Senior Vice President of ANOC. He was the only nomination for Senior Vice President from the five Vice Presidents from the five continental associations and will be second in command to the ANOC President.
Upon his election, Sheikh Joaan said: “I greatly appreciate your support and the trust you have shown in me. I also thank the Olympic Council of Asia for their nomination. Working to represent the interests of ANOC and the entire NOC family to the best of my ability starts now and I am excited for what is to come.
“As we say in the Olympic Movement, we are stronger together and there is so much we can learn from each other. ANOC has a key role to play in facilitating the sharing of knowledge and resources among NOCs and providing support for NOCs so you can best serve your athletes and communities.
“I look forward to actively contributing to a brighter and shared future by working with President Mitchell, the ANOC Executive Council, ANOC Secretary General and the entire ANOC team in Lausanne.”
The Qatar Olympic Committee added: “In recognition of His Excellency’s service to the Olympic Movement in Asia and beyond, and as a testament to QOC’s work to advance the role of sport for peace and development, this is a momentous occasion that marks the beginning of a four-year mandate until 2026.”
The election confirmed the two posts for 2022-2026:
ANOC President, Dr Robin Mitchell (Fiji)
ANOC Senior Vice President: Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani (Qatar)
ANOC Executive Council (Asia)
ANOC Vice President (Asia): Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani (Qatar).
ANOC Executive Council members from Asia (5): Raja Randhir Singh (India), Timur Kulibayev (Kazakhstan), Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul (Thailand), Li Lingwei (China), Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski (Philippines).
In other news on the second day:
*In the reports from ANOC commissions, Gender Equity Commission Chair HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, President of Jordan Olympic Committee, said his first visit to Seoul was in 2006 for an ANOC General Assembly. He commented that less than 10 per cent of delegates in 2006 were female but this time the number of female delegates was one-third, highlighting the progress being made in this mission.
He added that the Tokyo 2020 organising committee was made up of 40 per cent females, and he urged sports organisations to focus on women’s participation, not only as athletes but also as coaches, administration and all the functional support areas. Emerging from the pandemic was a good opportunity to address this issue, he added.
*The IOC is in ongoing dialogue with 10 NOCs from four continents about future Olympic Games after Brisbane 2032, and that three cities, including Sapporo in Japan, are keen to host the 2030 Winter Olympics. The decision will be made at the 140th IOC Session in October 2023.
*Singapore is set to host the second Olympic Esports Week over four days in June 2023.
For resolutions of the 26th ANOC General Assembly, see: www.anocolympic.org.