The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) is the organization responsible for protecting and advancing the interests of the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and its mission is to support and promote Olympic values around the world. So says its website.
Despite the pandemic that is still ongoing, while the systematic vaccination plan reduces the cases of Covid-19 around the world, ANOC held the XXV General Assembly in Crete, Greece, last October 24 and 25, and It was attended by 148 National Olympic Committees; while another 57 were virtually connected.
At this meeting, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, especially thanked the 205 NOCs and their athletes for their support and solidarity during the difficulties of the pandemic that, however, were able, a year later, to develop the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. As always, the commitment to the non-politicization of sport was maintained since, in his vision, the Olympic Games are a powerful symbol of diversity, inclusion and non-discrimination, with athletes of all races, religions, ethnic groups and cultures competing with each other and living together in harmony.
However, the ANOC General Assembly heard the report of the ACNO Acting President, the Fijian Robint Mitchell, in office since 2018, when the Kuwaiti Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah resigned due to problems with the justice (last month he was sentenced to 14 months in prison). In his address, Robint Mitchell referred to discussions in FIFA on the proposal to hold the World Cup every two years.
In that regard, members of the 205 NOCs shared the concerns expressed by many within the sports movement that FIFA’s plan to change the soccer calendar and hold the World Cup every two years. For them, “it will pose a great threat to the survival of many sports other than football that are under the responsibility of the NOCs. The proposals submitted by FIFA will add to the congestion of the world sports calendar. This will have a negative impact on sporting events organized by NOC member national federations, as well as regional and continental Games under the authority of NOCs. In addition, it will negatively affect the well-being of soccer athletes ”.
For ANOC, it was an unconsulted decision by FIFA, particularly with regard to the IOC, which has already made clear its refusal to this plan to organize a World Cup every two years. According to the IOC, FIFA “showed a regrettable lack of solidarity and respect towards other sports.” (Bolavip)