Madrid, Spain, March 31, 2023: The ANOC Executive Council met today (Friday) in Madrid to discuss and agree a number of key items, including the ANOC World Beach Games in Bali this August and the ANOC Awards.
The meeting was attended by all Executive Council members with nine members joining online. The meeting was opened with reports from ANOC President Robin Mitchell and ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg on ANOC’s extensive activities since the last Executive Council meeting. All Continental Association Presidents delivered reports from their regions.
The Executive Council also approved Cascais, Portugal as the host of the ANOC General Assembly in 2024.
The Executive Council reaffirmed its support of the position adopted by the IOC Executive Board on 28 March and endorsed the open letter to the IOC Executive Board from the Presidents of the five NOC Continental Association of 30 March 2023.
ANOC President Robin Mitchell said: “Today was another very productive Executive Council meeting and reinforced the important role ANOC has to play in the Olympic Movement. Throughout our discussions, the message of unity and solidarity was a recurring theme. We are facing challenging times, but it is imperative that we remain united and continue to focus on supporting athletes.”
During the meeting, the Executive Council approved the composition of its new ANOC Commissions which include the introduction of two new Commissions: the ANOC Sustainability Commission and ANOC Technical and Coach Working Group.
The ANOC Events Working Group provided an update on the positive progress being made in the preparations for the ANOC World Beach Games Bali 2023 on 5-12 August. The Chef de Mission Seminar will be held on 28 April-2 May and will provide an important opportunity for NOCs to contribute and ensure the best Games-experience for their athletes.
The Events Working Group also proposed a change to the ANOC Awards so that the event is held every two years to coincide with the Olympic Games, rather than annually on the sidelines of the ANOC General Assembly. The Executive Council approved the proposal. The ANOC Awards was held for the first time in Bangkok in 2014 and has been held every year since then.