ANOC Commends United States Olympic Committee

Thursday, February 02, 2017

The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) has commended the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) for the work they have done in ensuring athletes and officials are able to compete in international sporting events in the United States.

Speaking on behalf of ANOC, ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said:

"ANOC commends the USOC for working with the US Government to ensure that athletes and officials from NOCs around the world will be granted expedited access to the United States to compete in international sporting events. The United States is a valued partner of the Olympic Movement and regularly hosts international events so this is a particularly important initiative.

"Sport has the power to unite the world and the work of the US Olympic Committee is another reminder of the excellent work NOCs do all around the world to protect and promote the Olympic Values."

Speaking about the USOC’s initiative, the IOC said:

"The IOC has been informed by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) about the pledge of cooperation it received from the US Government with regard to expedited access to the United States for athletes and officials in order to participate in international sports competitions. The IOC welcomes the initiative by USOC and trusts that international competitions in the United States continue to take place in line with the Olympic Values of friendship, excellence and respect."

In an earlier statement to the media, the USOC had said:

"We have received a number of inquiries about the executive order regarding immigration that was issued by President Trump on Friday. Like the United States, the Olympic Movement was founded based upon notions of diversity and inclusion, of opportunity and overcoming adversity. As the steward of the Olympic Movement in the United States, we embrace those values. We also acknowledge the difficult task of providing for the safety and security of a nation. It is our sincere hope that the executive order as implemented will appropriately recognize the values on which our nation, as well as the Olympic Movement, were founded.

"We have been specifically asked about the impact that the executive order could have on athletes and officials coming to the United States to compete. Recognizing the extraordinary power of international sport to bring people together in a peaceful celebration of friendship, excellence and respect, the US government has today advised us that it will work with us to ensure that athletes and officials from all countries will have expedited access to the United States in order to participate in international athletic competition."

Posted by: ANOC

Source: ANOC