18 June 2013

Lausanne, 17^th June – the ANOC extraordinary general assembly ended on a high note and the 800 delegates from across the world have now left the Olympic capital for a spate of rest after a very busy weekend.

Chaired by ANOC president HRH Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah and attended by 201 out of the 204 NOCs recognised by the IOC, the assembly took an important step in the history of the Association when it approved by 200 votes and one abstention its new constitution, designed to serve, promote and protect the interests of the NOCS in a truly democratic way, as pointed out by president Al Sabah.

The process of modernisation launched under the new president focuses on the athletes, and for this purpose an athletes’ commission, hitherto nonexistent, will now be set up.

The Lausanne Assembly also greeted for the last time in his capacity as President of the IOC Jacques Rogge, who was awarded the ANOC Merit Award for the second time, and who wished the man who has taken over from Mario Vazquez Raña’s every success for his “creative and ambitious” plans.

The delegations present, including the 49 NOCs of Europe led by EOC president Patrick Hickey, who is also ANOC senior vice president, heard 19 reports, including one from London 2012, and those from future organisers, with Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 and Pyeongchang 2018, and the Nanjing 2014 and Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Festivals. Another highlight was the presentations from the candidate cities for the 2020 Games: Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid.

As the ANOC General Assembly will from here on take place every year, there will be a 2014 assembly, which will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, whilst the one for 2015 will be held in Washington DC, USA, and the one for 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

As for the ANOC Executive Council, following its meeting in Lausanne on the eve of the assembly, it will meet again this year on 6^th September in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and then on 9^th December in Lausanne, Switzerland, whilst for 2014 Sheikh Al Sabah will host one at the new headquarters of the Olympic Council of Asia in Kuwait on 31^st March, which will be followed by meetings in Nanjing on 8^th August and Chiang Mai on 5^th November.

14 June 2013

Mersin (Turkey), 13th June - with teams from all the Mediterranean countries about to depart for Mersin, where the Mediterranean Games are due to start in a week's time, the Turkish organisers have assured that the event will not be affected by the anti-government demonstrations taking place in various parts of the country.
The international and Turkish media indeed report that the organisers have gone on record as saying that "a thorough investigation of the situation conducted by top experts has shown that the level of risk for participants is virtually nil." Nevertheless, the organisers have worked "to implement rigorous security that can address any eventuality."
The press release came following a meeting of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG), at which it was agreed that ICMG secretary general Isidoros Kouvelos should write to Turkish NOC president Uğur Erdener and the Mersin Games organisers asking for an assurance that the Games will take place peacefully and requesting further information as to the disorders.
The 17th Mediterranean Games are due to take place from the 20th to the 30th of June, and are to be attended by athletes from the 24 member NOCs, including Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Croatia, Egypt, Spain, the ex Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey.