Five Minutes with Gunilla Lindberg

(ATR) ANOC secretary general Gunilla Lindberg will guide the workings of this week’s General Assembly in Prague.

It’s just the latest stop for this superwoman of sport. Long time secretary general of the Swedish Olympic Committee, IOC member, head of the PyeongChang Coordination Commission and a member of the co-comms for Tokyo and Paris, she seems to be in constant motion.

In the calm before the flood of arrivals in Prague, she paused to discuss this week’s assembly.

ATR: It’s the first time for ANOC to meet in Prague … what have the preparations been like?

Gunilla Lindberg: The preparations have been excellent. We have had very good cooperation with the Czech Olympic Committee for the last year and I am sure we will have a fantastic General Assembly with its own special Czech flavor.

ATR: Are there any changes to the program compared to last year in Doha?

GL: Like every year, the purpose of the General Assembly is to bring all the NOCs together, providing a platform for open and constructive dialogue and to better understand how we can improve the support we provide the NOCs.

ANOC will give a number of updates on our latest progress and there will be reports from each of our Commissions and Working Groups.

There will also be reports from each of the OCOGS of the upcoming Olympic Games so that NOCs can learn more about the preparations and ask any questions if needed.

Plus we have the exciting new topic of an update on the ANOC World Beach Games, which I know many NOCs are eager to hear.

ATR: With the PyeongChang Olympics just months away, will the NOCs have the chance to hear the latest on preparations?

GL: Yes, there will be a presentation from the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee as well as presentations from all the OCOGs of the upcoming Olympic Games.

As the IOC has stated, the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee should be applauded for the progress and technical preparations they have made. The NOCs will hear all about these preparations first hand during the ANOC General Assembly, and I have no doubt they will enjoy their experience in PyeongChang in 2018.

ATR: As the leader of the CoComm for 2018, what is your assessment of the preparations for the NOCs?

GL: It was clear on my last visit to PyeongChang 2018 that the Organizing Committee is well on its way to delivering a successful Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Many advances have been made on venues and infrastructure and everything has been done to secure safe and successful Games.

The Chef de Mission Seminar in February was very well attended and many questions were raised by the NOCs. Most of those questions have now been settled. I have no doubts that the NOCs and their athletes will be provided with a fantastic environment in which they can compete at their very best

Today will mark 100 days to go until the Opening Ceremony and will be a critical period for NOCs as they do the final preparations for their teams. We will work closely with POCOG and IOC/NOC relations to ensure the very best communication with the NOCs in this final lead up to the Games.

ATR: The third ANOC awards gala is Thursday night … What’s new about the event?

GL: As this is a non-Olympic year, the award categories will be focused on the best performances of male and female athletes from each continent in the various World Championships and international events that have taken place this year.

As ever, the ANOC Awards is dedicated to the NOCs and their athletes and we are committed to providing the very best possible evening for them. We want to give the NOCs an evening of entertainment and celebration as a thank you for the hard work they do throughout the year.

ATR: Is everything on track for Tokyo as 2018 host of ANOC?

GL: Yes, we have already begun close collaboration with the organizing committee from Tokyo. Two members of their staff were based in the ANOC office from mid-October and there are another four members from their Organizing Committee are here in Prague as observers to learn more about the preparations and running of the General Assembly.

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