ANOC President End of Year Message
As we near the end of 2023, we contemplate a year marked by significant challenges, yet one where sport has brought many moments of joy and celebration.
In the face of great adversity, NOCs around the world have continued to demonstrate the power of sport to unite and inspire hope.
The Continental Games in Europe, Asia, Americas and Oceania were a fantastic showcase of international sport and brought NOCs from around the world together in peaceful competition.
NOCs, Continental Associations, International Federations (IFs), and most importantly the athletes, can be very proud of what has been achieved when working together.
But while there have been great successes, we must also look critically and constructively at how we can improve. Just like our athletes, we must always challenge ourselves to strive for better.
For ANOC, we cannot reflect on this year without acknowledging the great disappointment of the cancellation of the ANOC World Beach Games Bali 2023. We at ANOC worked hard to minimise the impact of the cancellation with the full reimbursement of NOCs’ travel expenses processed in less than three months.
However, we recognise that this does not make up for the athletes who missed out on the chance to fulfil their dream. We have a responsibility to them to learn lessons from this most regrettable situation and turn it into an opportunity to build for a stronger future.
With that in mind, the ANOC Executive Council, at its recent meeting, approved the creation of a Working Group to analyse the Games concept and ensure that it is delivering maximum value to NOCs and their athletes, IFs and other stakeholders.
The Games, like all ANOC’s activities, must serve the NOCs in line with the ANOC Strategic Plan.
Despite the disruption caused by the cancellation of the ANOC World Beach Games and the absence of the ANOC General Assembly, ANOC has continued to make great progress this year in implementing a number of meaningful programmes.
It has been fantastic to see the positive engagement from NOCs on the ANOC programmes that have been delivered.
There has been excellent feedback from NOCs on the two Sports and Technical Directors Seminars held in Aman (JOR) and Rabat (MAR), and we look forward to hosting more of these Seminars in the future as we tailor them specifically to the needs of the NOCs.
The numerous Sustainability Workshops, delivered in partnership with The Toolbox, have engaged around 60 NOCs this year and helped to better equip them in developing their own Sustainability Strategies.
And the ongoing workshops and webinars of the Digital Accelerator Programme have allowed NOCs to share best practice and exchange knowledge as they seek to further develop their social media strategies.
The ANOC Commissions have met throughout the year, online and where possible in person, to maintain ANOC’s commitment to driving forward with innovations and initiatives that will enhance the support we provide the NOCs. The Commissions are unique in being focused solely on the interests of the NOCs.
Looking to next year we will not have to wait long before the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games. We are sure it will be an excellent event and following Beijing 2022, ANOC will be partnering with the IOC to deliver the NOC Photo Project. The project will allow NOCs to enhance their social and digital engagement and better showcase their athletes.
We than have the incredible exciting prospect of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with NOC preparations in full swing.
In the remaining months before the Games, ANOC will continue to fulfil its responsibility to represent the interests of the NOCs and present any concerns to the IOC and Organising Committee.
Paris 2024 will be a poignant moment with the return of Olympic fans to the stadiums and the coming together of the world in peaceful competition.
As IOC President Thomas Bach said following the adoption of the new resolution by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), sport “can only unite the entire world in peaceful competition if we are not torn apart by political, religious, cultural or other interests and differences.”
ANOC fully supports the peaceful mission of the IOC and fully endorses the resolutions of this month’s Olympic Summit.
With countless wars and conflicts going on around the world, sport can play a valuable humanitarian pathway for Olympic communities.
As ANOC, we stand in solidarity with all those affected.
We desperately hope for peaceful resolutions to the ongoing conflicts and that 2024 can bring a brighter outlook.
Unity through sport is at ANOC’s heart and we are greatly looking forward to seeing that not just in Paris but also in Cascais (POR) during our General Assembly at the end of the year.
Preparations for the General Assembly are progressing very well and we are sure that Cascais will be the perfect setting for the coming together of the world’s 206 NOCs through our shared values. The ANOC General Assembly plays a critical role in bringing NOCs together and providing a forum for sharing best practice. During the General Assembly, we will also have the joy of the ANOC Awards which will allow us to celebrate and relive the best moments of Paris 2024.
There is no doubt much to look forward to next year. We cannot ignore or dismiss the ongoing challenges the world faces. But sport will continue to illuminate our path, proving that we are stronger when we collectively “Give peace a chance”.
