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48^th ANOC EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

AND XVI ANOC GENERAL ASSEMBLY

IN BEIJING, CHINA

48^th ANOC Executive Council meeting

The Executive Council of the Association of National Olympic Committees gathered for its 48^th meeting on 05 April 2008 in Beijing, China, chaired by ANOC President Mario Vázquez Raña.

The Council focussed essentially on a review of the XVI General Assembly agenda, including in particular a redrafting of the Association's Constitution and the issues preoccupying the NOCs in relation with the forthcoming Olympic Games of Beijing 2008.

XVI ANOC General Assembly

The XVI General Assembly took place from the 7^th to the 9^th of April and was inaugurated in the presence of governmental and Olympic authorities of the host country, the President of ANOC and the President of the IOC. The President of ANOC thanked the Government of the People's Republic of China, the Organizing Committee of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad and the Chinese Olympic Committee "for their great support and the excellent conditions provided for a successful XVI General Assembly of the National Olympics Committees". He underlined that "only the closest cooperation between all members of the Olympic Movement as well as the political will of China’s Government will make it possible to reach the high objectives sought with the Beijing Olympic Games".

The Assembly approved the reports from the President of ANOC Mr Mario Vázquez Raña, the Secretary General Ms. Gunilla Lindberg, the Treasurer Mr Richard Peterkin, and the Auditor.

The preparations for the Olympic Games in Beijing were of course the main topic on the agenda, and BOCOG made a presentation for half a day on the latest updates for the NOCs. A tour of Olympic venues took place on April 11, which gave the NOCs' representatives the opportunity of visiting the Olympic Green and the Olympic Village.

The Assembly also received information on various topics, in particular the World Anti-Doping Agency and the OCOGs of the Olympic Winter / Summer Games of Vancouver 2010, London 2012 and Sochi 2014, and discussed the role of the NOCs in the XXI century in the midst of the rapid changes affecting all sectors in today's society.

With the aim of promoting the participation of women in Olympic organizations, ANOC had again especially invited three women delegates per continent selected by their Continental Organizations ‑ as for the previous XV Assembly in Seoul ‑ to participate in ANOC's General Assembly, with Olympic Solidarity's support.

The XVI General Assembly approved the Resolutions appearing hereunder. The XVII ANOC General Assembly is programmed for 2010 in Acapulco, Mexico.

ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

XVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JOINT MEETING

OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

AND THE NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

BEIJING – APRIL 10, 2008

R E S O L U T I O N S

1.             To inform the IOC Executive Board on the content of the Declaration approved by the XVI General Assembly, in which the 205 National Olympic Committees members of ANOC reaffirm their commitment to participate in the Games of the XXIX Olympiad and to make their best effort so the athletes may fulfill their Olympic dream in the Beijing Games.

2.             To express the will of the National Olympic Committees to properly inform and prepare their athletes so they may fully exert their right to express themselves freely during the Olympic Games, within the limits established by the Olympic Charter.

3.             To ratify to the IOC Executive Board the full support of the National Olympic Committees to the 1^st Youth Olympic Games “Singapore 2010” and their commitment to work, with enthusiasm and dedication, to make sure the preparation process and the development of the Games fulfill the expectations of the Olympic Movement and worldwide youth.

4.             To support before the IOC Executive Board the communication approved by the ANOC Executive Council, rejecting the procedure used by the ASOIF President to question the economic benefits received by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) for marketing rights of the Olympic Games according to the agreement in force between the USOC and the IOC.

5.             To submit to the analysis of the IOC Executive Board the following issues regarding the organization of the Beijing Olympic Games, which require a decision:

-           To review as soon as possible the situation regarding the amount established by BOCOG as subsidy to pay for the airline tickets of the NOCs’ delegations. These amounts are too low and in many NOCs, they are far away from the actual expense they need to make for this concept.

-           To receive, urgently, the complete information with respect to the procedures to put to the NOCs’ disposal a visa hot line for urgent consultations.

-           To request from BOCOG to extend the deadline of April 30 for the personal identification of tickets for the Ceremonies, for non accredited persons.

-           To request all venue access parking passes (VAPS) on the rate cards orders for NOC cars.

-           To confirm BOCOG’s commitment to allow free access through customs of medical equipment, including medicines, that need to be imported by the delegations that shall participate in the Games.

-           To insist that BOCOG should guarantee the importation of food products required by the delegations, both for Hospitality Houses and NOC accommodation within the Olympic Village.

-           To recommend BOCOG to reconsider their position regarding access passes for the airport for NOC officials who take care of their teams’ arrival, providing long term passes instead of daily passes.

-           To request same rules for designated cars for Presidents and Secretary Generals for all NOCs.

6.             The participants in the XVI General Assembly, representatives from the 205 National Olympic Committees members of ANOC, reiterate to the IOC Executive Board their certainty that with unity and collaboration amongst all members of the Olympic Movement, the Games of the XXIX Olympiad shall achieve further success, as expected and deserved by the young athletes worldwide.

XVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY

A N O C

ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

XVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY

S T A T E M E N T

Beijing – April the 7^th, 2008

The XVI General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees, gathered in the city of Beijing, venue of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, with the presence of its 205 member NOCs, has considered that:

-           The Olympic Charter clearly defines that the Olympic Movement is the concerted, organized, universal and permanent action carried out under the supreme authority of the International Olympic Committee.

-           The Olympic Games have as one of its fundamental objectives to contribute towards peace and the development of friendship and collaboration amongst all people worldwide.

-           The Games of the XXIX Olympiad were granted to the city of Beijing through a process rigorously based on the rules and procedures established by the International Olympic Committee.

-           The Beijing Olympic Games, in recent times, have been subject to questionings and criticisms in which political elements foreign to the Olympic Charter and the philosophy of our Movement have been present.

-           The Olympic Movement, of which ANOC is one of the main pillars, has the obligation to defend the athletes’ right to participate in the Olympic Games and to protect these Games from any kind of action that could damage its objectives, values and principles.

Further to these considerations, the XVI ANOC General Assembly

DECLARES

FIRST:                                Its full support to the city of Beijing in the organization of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, in fulfillment to its commitment towards the International Olympic Committee and the athletes worldwide.

SECOND:                            The decision of the 205 National Olympic Committees members of ANOC to participate in the Olympic Games and strengthen the preparation of their athletes, contributing to the successful staging of the Games.

THIRD:                                Its rejection of any intent to use the Olympic Games for political ends, firmly defending the name and image of the Games, as well as the athletes’ right to participate in this great festival of worldwide youth.

FOURTH:                            Its confidence that the government of the People’s Republic of China shall strive to find, through dialogue and understanding, a fair and reasonable solution to the internal conflicts, for the benefit of the Games and the athletes.

XVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY

A N O C

During the Assembly, the ANOC Merit Award was solemnly presented to the following olympic officials :

·          Alhaji Abdoulie Badara Dandeh-Njie, President of the NOC of Gambia, former ANOCA Tresurer General, former ANOC Executive Council member.

·          Counselor Khaled Zein Eldin, Secretary General of the NOC of Egypt, President of the African Rowing Federation.

·          Mr Ibrahim Abdul Malik Mohammed, Secretary General of the NOC of the United Arab Emirates, Vice-President of the OCA West Asian Federation.

·          Alhaji Abdoulie M. Touray, Secretary General of the NOC of Gambia, ANOC Marketing Commission member.

·          Mr Moustapha Berraf, President of the NOC of Algeria, 1st Vice-President of ANOCA.

·          Mr Zvi Varshaviak, President of the NOC of Israel.

·          Mr Aggrey Moussa Mahamat, President of the NOC of Chad.

·          Mr Armen Grigoryan, Secretary General of the NOC of Armenia.

·          Mr Ly Gia Thanh, Honorary Treasurer of the NOC of Vietnam.

·          Mr Gustavo Dias Vaz Da Conceição, President of the NOC of Angola, ANOCA Secretary General, ANOC Executive Council member.

·          Mr Suresh Kalmadi, President of the NOC of India.

·          Prof. Rocky Kang-Ro Yoon, member of the NOC of Korea.

·          Mr Jacob Gbeti, President of the NOC of the Central African Republic.

·          H.H. Sheik Issa Bin Rashid Al-Khalifa, President of the NOC of Bahrain.

·          Mr Jose Cojuangco, Jr., President of the NOC of the Philippines, Life Honorary President of the South East Asia Games Federation.

·          Mr Gafur Rakhimov, Vice-President of the NOC of Uzbekistan, Vice-President of OCA.

·          Mr Kim Min Jae, photographer (Korea).

·          Mr Victor Fonseca da Mota, Secretary General of the NOC of Portugal.

The Assembly approved the updated composition of the ANOC Commissions ‑ click here >>>



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47^th ANOC EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

Lausanne, 9 December 2007

The Executive Council of ANOC held its 47^th meeting on Sunday, 9 December 2007 at the International Olympic Committee's headquarters in Lausanne, chaired by Mr Mario Vázquez Raña, President of the Association. As a conclusion to the Council's session, the following Resolutions were adopted.



ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES

47^th ANOC EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

The Executive Council of ANOC gathered in Lausanne, Switzerland on December 9, 2007 adopted the following

RESOLUTIONS

1.     Express a heartfelt welcome to the members of the Executive Council attending this 47^th meeting, especially to Mr Tsunekazu Takeda (Japan), new Representative for the Olympic Council of Asia, whose nomination will have to be ratified by the next General Assembly.

2.     Approve the attendance as guest in the Executive Council meeting of Mr Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee, who will be presenting to the meeting a project to promote and develop, in cooperation with ANOC, Olympic education among children and young people all over the world.

3.                             Pay homage to the memory of distinguished Olympic leaders involved in ANOC’s work who passed away during the period since the last meeting :

Saparmurat Turkmenbashi, of Turkmenistan

Judge Keba Mbaye, of Senegal

Leonardo Nduwayo, of Burundi

Antonio Rodriguez, of Argentina

Sophia Raddock, of Fiji

Claude Collard, of France

Tom O’Omuombo, of Kenya

Nikos Filaretos, of Greece

4.     Approve the new ANOC logo which includes the modifications made in the logos of the European Olympic Committees, the Olympic Council of Asia and the Pan-American Sports Organization.

5.     Express thanks to the European Olympic Committees for having awarded its highest distinction, the EOC Merit Order, to the President of ANOC Mr Mario Vázquez Raña and for their excellent Assembly recently held in Valencia, Spain.

6.     Highlight the importance of the outcome of the World Anti-Doping Conference held in Madrid in November last as well as the new perspectives opened by the election of Mr John Fahey, of Australia as new President of the World Anti-Doping Agency. Approve the ANOC President’s proposal to send a letter of congratulations to the new President, together with an invitation to participate in the ANOC General Assembly to be held in Beijing in April of next year. ANOC reiterates its will to look for new ways of facilitating the widest possible collaboration with WADA with a view to intelligently and firmly face up to any form of doping in sports.

7.     Express the National Olympic Committees’ satisfaction and thanks for the extraordinary work carried out by the Olympic Solidarity Commission which has had a major impact in the work of the immense majority of the NOCs of the world, making it possible for them to assume their important responsibilities, and contributing to safeguarding their autonomy and independence.

8.     Thank the President of ANOC for his fruitful action in order to address the necessity of obtaining accreditations for Olympic Solidarity staff who, in their respective capacities and responsibilities, have to be present at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

9.     Approve the report presented by the Continental Associations which reflect the many activities developed for the benefit of the National Olympic Committees and in support of the athletes, especially to ensure their participation in the Olympic Games of Beijing.

10. Approve the report presented by the ANOC Secretary General which contains information on the next Summer Games in Beijing, the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, the Olympic Summer Games in London, and blogging. The report highlights :

·        Olympic Games of Beijing 2008 :

-          Concern over the situation of Tickets needed by the NOCs for the Olympic Game of Beijing.

-         NOCs’ request concerning the fork-and-knife pictogram on the accreditation card.

-         The request for second car for the President and Secretary general of NOCs with less than 50 competitors.

·        Olympic Winter Games of Vancouver 2010 :

-          A letter was received from the International Ice Hockey Federation that was not in agreement with the provisions of the Olympic Charter. After consultation with the IOC, the situation has been solved with this Federation regarding Entry Forms and Clothing.

·        Olympic Games of London 2012 :

-          A final plan has not yet been presented regarding the Olympic Village, but according to information from Lord Moynihan, this plan will be presented to the Coordination Commission in the coming months.

·        Blogging :

-          The NOCs expressed their concern about the IOC’s proposal for blogging.

11. Approve the report by the ANOC Treasurer on the financial situation of the Organisation, whose balance is a positive one.

12. Authorize the President of ANOC to undertake necessary actions to study and present to the upcoming General Assembly in Beijing a project concerning the promotion and dissemination of sport values and Olympic principles, essentially for children aged between 5 and 14. There is a general agreement on the urgent need to launch this type of actions through integral, articulated work with the National Olympic Committees’ active participation, allowing to offer new options to improve the quality of life of young people.

13. Thank the Chinese Olympic Committee and BOCOG’s representatives for their informative, detailed report on the organization and assurances foreseen in relation with ANOC and IOC meetings to be held in Beijing in April 2008.

14. Study a draft agenda for the XVI General Assembly in Beijing and send in as soon as possible any suggestion or recommendation on the topics put forward.

15. Thank Mr Urs Lacotte for his report on the organization of the Olympic Congress to be held in Copenhagen in 2009. ANOC requires further information on this stage of the preparation of the Congress and expresses its willingness to continue to work to have the National Olympic Committees involved and mobilizing all sectors of society so that they may offer their input in relation with the various topics that will be analyzed at said Congress.

16. Recognize the value of the report presented by Mr Gilbert Felli on the organisation of the Youth Olympic Games. Said report underlined the following points in particular :

-          the objective of promoting the widest participation of young people, develop and promote Olympic values, include all sectors of society in this Movement and organize competitions of the highest quality.

-          Hold the Youth Olympic Games (Summer edition) in the year 2010, lasting 12 days, with a participation of 3,500 athletes and 900 officials for athletes aged between 14 and 18, using as a platform the Programme of the Olympic Games 2012.

-          Hold the Youth Olympic Games (Winter edition) in 2012 with a participation of 1,000 athletes and 500 officials, in the 7 sports of the Olympic Winter Games.

-          Besides competitive aspects, organize forums and workshops on sport, the fight against doping, Olympic values and cultural aspects.

-          Existing services and facilities will be used for the organization of the Youth Olympic Games. The IOC will fund travel and accommodation for the athletes and officials. Participation of young people in the Organizing Committees and technical staff and officials will be encouraged.

-          Nine cities expressed their wish to host the Youth Olympic Games (Summer). There remain five cities being discussed. The decision will be taken in February 2008. The NOCs will be informed in January on the bid to host the Youth Olympic Games of 2012 (Winter).

-          The participation of the NOCs is key to the success of the Youth Olympic Games. The participation system will be similar to that applied for the Olympic Games. Universality will be the fundamental element. There is the possibility of having a few existing events serving as classifying competitions. Information concerning classifying events for this type of Games will be announced in September 2008.

The Executive Council recognizes that there are still unclear aspects that need to be resolved in the coming months. An update on the organisation of the Youth Olympic Games 2010 will be made at the General Assembly in Beijing.

17. Underscore that based on the actions taken by the President of the ANOC, the participation of the National Olympic Committees in the Second Seminar on the Autonomy of the Olympic and Sports Movement will be numerous and wide-ranging. The members of the Executive Council and five Presidents of NOCs belonging to the Continental Associations of America, Africa, Europe and Asia, as well as 3 NOC Presidents from Oceania, will be attending.

18. Approve the draft modifications to the ANOC Constitution. The members of the Executive Council will send to the Secretary General any suggestions they might have for a change in the wording or form, for the corrections which they consider necessary. Based on the corresponding decision, the project will be redrafted and sent to the NOCs’ consideration in the first week of January 2008 for its later submission to the General Assembly’s approval in Beijing.

19. Approve the Agenda proposed for the Joint Meeting between the Executive Council of ANOC and the IOC Executive Board to be held on December 10, 2007.

20. Approve the list of candidacies to the ANOC Merit Award put forward by the Presidents of the Continental Associations.

ANOC's Participation in the III^rd World Anti-Doping Conference

Madrid, 15-17 November 2007

The President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), Mr Mario Vázquez Raña and ANOC Secretary General Ms. Gunilla Lindberg represented the Association at the III^rd World Anti-Doping Conference held on 15-17 November 2007 in Madrid, Spain. The President of ANOC addressed the Conference with the following message.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES,

Mr MARIO VÁZQUEZ RAÑA,

TO THE III^rd WORLD ANTI-DOPING CONFERENCE