Sheikh-less ANOC Executive Meets

(ATR) The umbrella body for the world’s National Olympic Committees held its first executive meeting without influential powerbroker Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.

The Association of National Olympic Committee Executive Council met for the first time since its 2018 General Assembly in Tokyo in November. At the assembly Sheikh Ahmad stepped aside from his ANOC roles temporarily as he faces trial in Switzerland. There, many NOCs asked the Sheikh to stay on despite the trial.

Robin Mitchell, acting ANOC President, chaired the Executive Council meeting, which was attended by IOC President Thomas Bach, according to a release. Bach called the upcoming year "the year of the NOCs," due to a number of continental events in Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.

"As the first meeting of the newly-formed Executive Council, it was an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other better and to enhance our understanding of everyone’s specific skills and expertise," Mitchell said in a statement.

Mitchell says that all ANOC commissions will be limited to 10 individuals "to make them more manageable and more productive". All commission chairs will now become non-voting members of the ANOC Executive Council.

"[Commissions] will be meeting more regularly and we look forward to seeing what initiatives that they will come up with in 2019 to help further develop the support ANOC provides its NOCs," Mitchell added.

World Beach Games Update

ANOC says that so far 51 NOCs have qualified for the 2019 World Beach Games.

The event will be the first ANOC-led multi-sport event and will be held in San Diego, United States.

One modification was made to the event’s sport program according to ANOC. BMX will not be featured in San Diego because of rising costs, ANOC said, and that work would continue with the International Cycling Union to bring BMX to future events.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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