ANOC World Beach Games Chef de Mission Seminar concludes in Bali
The ANOC World Beach Games Bali 2023 Chef de Mission Seminar concluded in Bali today after three days of productive meetings and venue tours.
Representatives from nearly 70 National Olympic Committees attended the seminar in person with more than 30 joining the meetings remotely. With qualification for the Games ongoing, the final list of NOCs will be finalised on 8 July, but it is expected more than 100 NOCs from all five Continents will compete at the Games.
The Seminar officially began on 29 April with the morning session covering subjects such as sport and venues, accreditation and sport entries, and Villages and accommodation. At the end of the plenary session, Bali 2023’s friendly and welcoming blackfin shark mascots Bli Saksma and Gek Saksma, were unveiled. In the afternoon, the Chef de Missions were taken on a tour of the Nusa Dua cluster and the proposed venue locations.
The second day opened with a tour of the Jimbaran Cluster and Kuta. The afternoon’s presentations covered Games services including: ceremonies, security, ticketing, media operations, brand protection and sustainability.
The CDMs were given details about the latest initiatives of the ANOC Digital Accelerator Programme including the Bali 2023 Social Media Attaché Programme which allows all qualified NOCs to accredit one Social Media Attaché in their official delegation in order to support on-site coverage at the Games; as well as information about the newly launched ANOC.tv which will show highlights of Bali 2023 and be available to all NOCs.
ANOC explained the number of sustainability measures which were implemented for the meeting. This includes ANOC’s partnership with Marine Biodiversity Foundation (CMBF), a local coral conservation project in Bali, until 2026, and ANOC’s partnership with Bluewater – a supplier of revolutionary water purifiers –to drastically reduce single-use plastic. On the final day there was a final venue tour of Canggu before the seminar concluded.
ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg said:
“We have enjoyed very productive meetings here in Bali. There is a growing sense of excitement among the NOCs. Of course, with three months to go there is still work to be done and we will continue to work closely with the LOC to put on the best Games for the athletes. The Games is about the beach, sand, joy and sun but it is also an elite competition and athletes need the best conditions to compete. In Bali we are confident we have the partners to deliver that and to deliver it with the famous Balinese smile.”
Cayetano Cornet, Chef de Mission for the NOC of Spain who finished top of the table at Qatar 2019 said:
“These were amazing days. The venues will look great and the accommodation provided is outstanding. The LOC, with support from ANOC, is doing a great job. We hope to have a big team and will come with our best athletes to try to get the best possible result. The LOC and ANOC have managed to find excellent ways to make these Games more sustainable such as the reduced ground transportation and plastic use. I understand it is not easy to implement since it is a difficult change in mindset. But we are on our way.
Joyce Ardies Chef de Mission for the NOC of Brazil who finished second at Qatar 2019 said:
“The past few days in Bali were great as it’s our chance to be closer to the Organising Committee, understand their service levels and what they plan for these Games. We came with lots of questions and now we have more answers and information to bring to our delegation to have a great Games.”
