ANOC’s Sheikh Ahmad Makes Olympic Statement

cough helvetica, pilule sans-serif;”>Interim president of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), look Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, has called for “unity, solidarity and cooperation” ahead of the organisation’s general assembly in Moscow next month.

Sheikh Ahmad, president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), made the call after he was last week confirmed as the interim head of the ANOC. He comes to power following a turbulent period for the body which has seen influential Olympic official Mario Vazquez Rana resign from all of his sports governance positions, which include a seat on the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Executive Board, after lashing out at an “outrageous and aggressive race” for his succession as head of the ANOC.

The veteran Mexican official had led the ANOC since founding it in 1979, but faced a possible revolt at next month’s general assembly, when some delegates were expected to seek his dismissal. In his resignation statement, Vazquez Rana criticised the methods employed to succeed him by ANOC vice-presidents Sheikh Ahmad and Patrick Hickey, president of the European Olympic Committees.

Sheikh Ahmad, speaking on Monday, expressed his belief that it is crucial for the 204 National Olympic Committees belonging to ANOC to stand together both for the good of the global Olympic Movement and to ensure a successful Olympic Games in London this summer.

“The Executive Council and members of ANOC must show unity, solidarity and cooperation, and work together with the National Olympic Committees and with the International Federations,” he said. “We will serve the Olympic Movement according to the Olympic Charter and we are open and transparent in welcoming any suggestions, recommendations and proposals on the way forward. Whatever the majority decides will be followed.”