Meetings of ANOC General Assembly Kick Off in Doha

Doha, October 18, 2019-(QNA) - The 24th General Assembly of the Association of the National Olympic Committees (ANOC) began in the presence of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani and International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha. The assembly, which was opened by the acting ANOC Acting President Robin Mitchell, also saw HE the Assistant Chief of the Amiri Diwan and former QOC secretary-general Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani receiving an ANOC Order of Merit award. Representatives of 205 National Olympic Committees (NOC) and 1,000 high-level officials will get together at the two-day meeting, which will conclude today. Mitchel, in his opening remarks, thanked the State of Qatar and the QOC for their warm hospitality and excellent hosting of the ANOC World Beach Games, and the General Assembly. The General Assembly decided that Mitchell will continue as the acting president of ANOC. Bach and Mitchell honoured awarded the winners of the Order of Merit. HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani said in an opening speech: "Welcome, dear guests, to the Qatari people, whose sport occupies a large and fundamental space in their interests. We welcome guests here in Doha to the Qatar Olympic Committee, which shares the same vision, the same ambition and the same concerns, and will remain so as to spread and consolidate Olympic thought in the world, and in this region, in particular". Following the success of the first edition of the World Beach Games Qatar 2019, the Qatar Olympic Committee is pleased to host the 24th General Assembly of the National Olympic Committee and the awards ceremony," HE Sheikh Joaan added. His Excellency said : "Qatar Olympic Committee has always provided all possible support to the Olympic Movement by hosting numerous events, and programs to promote the Olympic principles and spirit, expressing his happiness for attendance of the delegates representing the National Olympic Committees, the International Olympic Committee, the International Sports Federations and the Organizing Committees for the tournaments in this General Assembly, which will discuss the most important achievements of the Olympic Movement, in the period between them and the previous General Assembly. His Excellency also pointed out that this General Assembly will discuss various programs to support the Olympic Committees in their endeavor to support the Olympic Movement and the continued contribution to the development of the ANOC work in an era in which the pace of change and development in various aspects of life. HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al -Thani continued: "As a Qatari Arab Middle Eastern people, the principles of love, peace and respect for the other underpinning the Olympic philosophy are values that inspire us, consistent with our true desire to live together, in harmony and love with all peoples of the world, with all pf their cultures and races. " As aspiring people for the better, aspiring to change themselves and their lives in a positive way that preserves their identity and interacts with other cultures, we find ourselves integrated with that Olympic philosophy of combining sport with the pleasure, health and joy of life, culture and education which fosters awareness and development of ideas. "We renew our welcome to all, and we hope that the work of this General Assembly will be a success and that the Committees and all members of the Olympic family will continue their successful efforts to develop the Olympic Movement in the world," HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al -Thani concluded. (QNA)