Introduction

DUNCAN MACKAY EDITOR, INSIDETHEGAMES

It was back in November 2018, in Tokyo, that Seoul was first announced as the host of the Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly.

Delegates at the Grand Prince Hotel New

Takanawa heard that the South Korean capital would stage the meeting in 2020, and there was no indication that this wouldn’t be the case.

Fast-forward to October 2022 and the

Olympic world is only now on the cusp of gathering in the host city of the 1988

Summer Games.

The world is a very different place, having endured a global pandemic which thwarted the Korean hopes of hosting until this year.

ANOC, too, is an organisation undergoing a period of change.

At that same gathering in Tokyo, Fiji’s

Robin Mitchell was appointed as the Acting

President of the organisation as incumbent

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah faced legal difficulties.

This was supposed to be a stopgap solution until Sheikh Ahmad could return to his post, but Mitchell ended up staying as the “acting” President for nearly four years.

Sheikh Ahmad, known as one of the most influential powerbrokers in the Olympic

Movement, was sentenced to 14 months in prison, with 15 suspended, by a court in Geneva in September 2021 after being found guilty of forgery.

He denies the charge and is appealing, but the ongoing case means he is unable to return to the ANOC hotseat.

In July, Mitchell was declared as the only candidate for the Presidency on a permanent basis, with his coronation set to take place in Seoul.

He will become the sole figurehead of the body which represents more than 200 National Olympic Committees, and takes the job at an intriguing time.

Panam Sports President Neven Ilic has accused ANOC of “losing its way” and there are fears that the International Olympic Committee would like to bring the organisation firmly to heel.

Mitchell also has the second edition of the ANOC World Beach Games to prepare for in Indonesia next year, while the Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a political headache for sporting administrators around the world.

In this latest edition of The insidethegames.biz Magazine, senior reporter Geoff Berkeley looks back on ANOC’s recent past and ponders where the umbrella body will go from here.

Junior reporter Patrick Burke also writes with NOCs in mind - as he discovers how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Olympic ambitions of countries around the world.

It will not be long before one of sport’s megaevents, the FIFA World Cup, kicks off in Qatar.

Chief columnist David Owen examines the lie of the land in the Gulf nation after that bewildering day in 2010 when the tiny country became a shock host of football’s most prestigious prize.

The FIFA officials who made that decision have had interesting lives since then. I have taken a look at what happened to the people who put Qatar firmly on the map on that December afternoon.

Looking further afield, the sports programme for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles is still to be determined with a shortlist of nine currently being pondered by organisers.

Junior reporter Eliott Brennan speaks to those who are still in the frame as well as others who have missed out.

Sports coming and going from the Olympic schedule is of course nothing new.

Historian Philip Barker uses these pages to explore some of the weird and wonderful disciplines which have graced sport’s grandest stage over the years. Bicycle polo or tug of war, anyone?

As the ANOC General Assembly is in Seoul, Philip also takes us through the Korean Peninsula’s Olympic history - which has often caused problems for those in the IOC corridors of power.

Reporter Michael Houston analyses four major events that we have witnessed this year - the Commonwealth Games, the World Games, the Mediterranean Games and the Islamic Solidarity Games.

Sticking with the Commonwealth Games, magazine editor Dan Palmer describes his project to speak to all 72 Chefs de Mission who served in July and August in Birmingham.

Junior reporter Owen Lloyd looks forward to the World Winter University Games in Lake Placid in January, and the election of the host city for the 2027 summer edition.

If you enjoy this magazine and our yearround coverage of the Olympic Movement, I would like to invite you to make a contribution to support our journalism by logging on to https://www.insidethegames. biz/contribute.

Every donation, however big or small, will help maintain and improve our work across the world in the years ahead.

We believe that Olympic news should remain in the public sphere and be free of charge to read, and we hope that it will.

Enjoy the magazine.

Duncan Mackay

Editor

WHAT NEXT FOR ANOC?

After four years as the “acting” President of ANOC, Robin Mitchell will step out of the shadow of Sheikh Ahmad and take the job full-time. But as Geoff Berkeley reports, it comes amid criticism that the organisation is becoming an IOC puppet.

Simmering feelings of discontent over the running of the Association of National Olympic Committees reached boiling point at a heated meeting in Santiago last month.

What was expected to be a routine election of ANOC Executive Council representatives at the Panam Sports General Assembly in the Chilean capital turned into a platform for members to let off steam.

Paraguayan Olympic Committee President Camilo Pérez López Moreira, who topped the election polling, was the first to pipe up as he vented his frustration about ANOC.

“What we seek is a different ANOC,” said Pérez.

“We want ANOC to represent our National Olympic Committees.

“In the past years it has taken a different path and we need to fight to ensure that we feel comfortable being part of ANOC.”

Canadian Olympic Committee President Tricia Smith, who also retained her place on the Executive Council for four more years, echoed Pérez’s points before Panam Sports President Neven Ilic joined the dissenting voices.

“As a continent we are clear on our stance and objectives to have an organisation in ANOC that represents in the best way the voice of our National Olympic Committees,” said Ilic, who is an ANOC vice-president for the Americas.

“I agree that there is a general consensus that ANOC has lost its way.”

The ANOC leadership was receiving a beating by Panam Sports members with St Lucia Olympic Committee President Alfred Emmanuel landing another blow.

Emmanuel slammed high-ranking officials at ANOC for holding positions of power with the International Olympic Committee, and called for “meaningful change” within the organisation that is expected to empower the voice of all 206 NOCs.

“If we continue in the same vein then the time has come for ANOC to fall and let the IOC stand alone,” said Emmanuel.

There was no-one from the ANOC management to hear the angry voices, with secretary general Gunilla Lindberg delivering a video message to the General Assembly due to

Panam Sports and its President Neven Ilic have hit out at

ANOC's current state. Photo: Getty Images

GEOFF BERKELEY SENIOR REPORTER, INSIDETHEGAMES

Robin Mitchell will become permanent ANOC President after four years as "acting" head. Photo: Getty Images

her participation at the Paris 2024 Coordination Commission meeting in the French capital.

But the comments of Pérez, Smith, Ilic and Emmanuel should set alarm bells ringing for Robin Mitchell and the rest of his team at ANOC.

After serving as ANOC’s Acting President for the past four years, Mitchell is set to secure the role on a permanent basis at a time when the organisation faces increasing criticism over its very purpose.

Mitchell is due to be elected unopposed as ANOC President at its upcoming General Assembly, scheduled to take place from October 18 to 21 in South Korean capital Seoul after being confirmed as the only candidate for the top job.

Ilic had been viewed as a potential contender for the ANOC Presidency, but the Chilean official has opted to get behind Mitchell.

“I have said many times that our obligation as Presidents of the continental organisations is to be available if ANOC needs us,” Ilic told insidethegames.

“But today we have Robin, and we are respecting his decision to be ANOC President.

“I have a lot of work to do at Panam Sports, but I will do my best to help Robin have a great ANOC.

“The General Assembly in Seoul will be a very important meeting as it is time to sit down and see how we want to view ANOC for the next four years.

“You saw at the Panam Sports General Assembly what the opinion is of our members, and I agree with most of the points.

“ANOC represents the National Olympic Committees, and this is the first important mission for them - you have to listen to us and represent our opinions.”

Emmanuel said he understood ANOC was established in 1979 to be a “bargaining agent” on behalf of the NOCs, but claimed this role was “slowly disappearing”.

The Saint Lucian official’s anger harks back to March 2012 when the late Mario Vázquez Raña was ousted as ANOC President in an alleged plot led by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.

The Mexican billionaire, who presided over ANOC for 33 years and was the head of the Pan American Sports Organization until his death in February 2015, blamed Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad and Ireland’s Patrick Hickey for forcing him out following an “aggressive” campaign.

Sheikh Ahmad took the reins in 2012 and led ANOC for six years before agreeing to temporarily stand aside amid forgery allegations.

Addressing delegates at the 2018 ANOC General Assembly in Tokyo, Sheikh Ahmad said he would step down for “a while” but vowed to “come back stronger”.

Three years later, the Kuwaiti powerbroker was sentenced to 14 months in prison, with 15 suspended, by a Swiss court.

Sheikh Ahmad was found guilty, together with three lawyers and an advisor, of formulating a plot to make false videos to damage Kuwaiti Government officials.

Following the verdict in September 2021, Sheikh Ahmad, who denies wrongdoing and claims that the allegations against him are politically motivated, pledged to appeal the decision.

Mitchell assumed temporary charge of ANOC in 2018, agreeing to remain in place until the court case involving Sheikh Ahmad, who is widely credited with helping Thomas Bach become IOC President in 2013, was resolved.

But after four years of holding the fort and with Sheikh Ahmad’s situation seemingly no closer to being settled, Mitchell is now set to secure a four-year mandate as President of the umbrella body.

Looking at the list of titles Mitchell holds within the Olympic Movement, it is hard to

GEOFF BERKELEY SENIOR REPORTER, INSIDETHEGAMES

The next edition of the ANOC World Beach Games is scheduled for Bali in 2023. Photo: Getty Images

imagine how the 76-year-old, a trusted ally of Bach, juggles his various lofty roles.

As well as heading up ANOC, Mitchell is a member of both the IOC Executive Board and the World Anti-Doping Agency Foundation Board. He is chair of the Olympic Solidarity Commission and President of the Oceania National Olympic Committees.

Such is Mitchell’s busy schedule, the Fijian was unavailable for interview for this publication.

Mitchell has led ONOC since 2009 and is currently serving a fourth term in office which is due to conclude in 2025 following his re-election in May.

With no-one standing against him in the upcoming ANOC Presidential election, Mitchell is poised to be elected by acclamation in Seoul.

“When you are Acting President, you don’t fully make decisions,” said Mitchell when he declared his intention to stand for the full-time job at last year’s ANOC General Assembly in Crete.

“If you are going to commit to your organisation you have to put your hand up.”

His four-year period as Acting President of ANOC has not come without its challenges, as he was tasked with the job of supporting NOCs through the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of $11.65 million was provided by ANOC to assist NOCs, with the funds managed by the five continental associations under the supervision of Olympic Solidarity.

Mitchell has hailed the resilience and commitment displayed by NOCs during what he described as “a truly extraordinary” 2021.

“The passion and dedication of the NOC family has inspired us and allowed your athletes to shine even during times of darkness,” he said in his end-of-year message.

“There have been countless examples of NOCs working together in 2021 whether it is through shared sports facilities, vaccination hubs or simply the exchange of knowledge and best practice.”

Mitchell said the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which were largely held behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions, showcased a “strength in unity” with a record-breaking 93 NOCs claiming medals at the Games.

Just six months later, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics were also held against the backdrop of the pandemic with Chinese organisers implementing strict coronavirus countermeasures.

The Games, which were staged despite human rights concerns, were overshadowed by the Kamila Valieva scandal when it emerged that the Russian figure skater, who was 15-years-old at the time of competing, had failed a drugs test last December.

But Mitchell, who attended daily Coordination Commission meetings at Beijing 2022, claimed the Games would “live long in the memory” as he paid tribute to organisers.

“Despite the challenges, the Games united us through sport, and for every medal there were countless more displays of friendship and respect,” he said.

The performances of those athletes are set to be celebrated when the ANOC Awards are distributed alongside the General Assembly in Seoul.

Less happily, the meeting in the South Korean capital is also expected to provide an update on the organisation’s financial state.

ANOC’s financial power has been considerably weakened after the IOC opted to make a 70 per cent subsidy cut.

During the 2017-2020 Olympic cycle, ANOC received $53.8 million in IOC subsidy, but this is budgeted to drop to $16 million for the 2021-2024 quadrennial.

A 25 per cent increase in the Olympic Solidarity budget to help NOCs recover from the COVID-19 pandemic was cited by ANOC as the reason for the decrease in subvention.

But ANOC reported a deficit of $5.5 million for the past quadrennial last year and the body’s cash balance is projected to plummet from $20.5 million at the end of 2020 to just $2.5 million at the end of 2024.

While International Federations can look to limit the extent of their financial dependence on the IOC by diversifying their income streams, NOCs are reliant on the wealth that is generated from the Olympic Games.

Russia's invitation to the ANOC General Assembly will cause controversy. Photo: Getty Images

The global financial climate is also becoming increasingly troubled with countries facing a cost-of living crisis as energy bills rise.

Russia is cutting off gas supplies as a result of sanctions imposed on the country in response to the war in Ukraine.

The IOC reacted to Russia’s invasion, aided by Belarus, of Ukraine shortly after the conclusion of Beijing 2022 by recommending that all sporting organisations ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from competition and stop the two nations from staging events.

Russia and Belarus have been thrown into the sporting wilderness as the majority of IFs continue to prevent athletes from the two countries from taking part in their events, while Ukraine remains under attack from Russian forces.

Speaking after a recent IOC Executive Board meeting, Bach’s spokesperson Mark Adams said the organisation was in an “unsolvable dilemma” over Russia and Belarus but had to take “protective measures” to avoid “full politicisation”.

“On the one hand, we can’t fully live up to our humanitarian mission which is to unite the entire world in peaceful competition,” said Adams.

“On the other hand, the only way to protect this mission for the future was to recommend the non-participation of athletes just because of their nationality.

“We will continue to closely monitor the situation.”

The IOC’s steadfast position raises doubt over the chances of Russians and Belarusians competing at Paris 2024 with Olympic qualification already up and running.

While athletes have been banned, the IOC has stopped short of calling for elected officials to step down from their positions.

The Russian Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus have also avoided suspension by the IOC.

The two NOCs were barred from attending June’s European Olympic Committees General Assembly in Skopje - a move that ROC President Stanislav Pozdnyakov claimed was in “violation of the integrity of the Olympic Movement”.

EOC President Spyros Capralos implemented the ban to “protect the proper functioning” of the meeting, citing “strong opposition” from some members to a plan for both countries to participate remotely.

The door appears to have been left open at the ANOC General Assembly, however, with Pozdnyakov confirming to Russian stateowned television channel RT that he had received an invitation to attend the meeting in Seoul.

“The main idea of the political neutrality of the Olympic Movement has been questioned,” said Pozdnyakov.

“These are all the consequences, from my point of view, of a certain media war on Russia and Russians.

“But we see that our voices, one way or another, are beginning to be heard.

“The most striking sign of this was the invitation of the ROC to the General Assembly of ANOC.

“I received the invitation to take part in the meeting of the Executive Council.

“This is a good platform for discussion, for the normalisation of those contradictions that arose, I emphasise, through no fault of our own.”

ROC and NOCRB officials will hope an appearance at the meeting in Seoul will be a step towards reintegration into the Olympic Movement.

But their presence in the South Korean capital is unlikely to sit well with some NOCs, especially National Olympic Committee of Ukraine President Sergey Bubka.

ANOC has yet to confirm whether Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to participate at next year’s World Beach

GEOFF BERKELEY SENIOR REPORTER, INSIDETHEGAMES

Games in Bali, an event it organises.

Russia ranked sixth in the medal table at the inaugural edition of the multi-sport event in Qatar in 2019 with two golds, two silvers and three bronzes, while Belarus finished in the top 10 with a medal of every colour.

The Russian men’s 3x3 basketball team are the defending champions, while Russia’s Vladimir Ryanzin and Aliaksandra Danisheuskaya of Belarus won the respective men’s and women’s water ski jump titles in Doha.

Bali’s 14-strong sports programme for the second edition of the Games includes 3x3 basketball but water skiing has been left off the list.

Air badminton, aquathlon, beach sprint rowing, beach water polo, beach soccer, beach handball, beach tennis, beach wrestling, open water swimming, 4x4 beach volleyball, individual kata, kite foil racing and surfing have also been included for Bali 2023.

The Games are scheduled to run from August 5 to 12, and Mitchell is anticipating an “unforgettable” event.

“We are grateful to NOC Indonesia, the Indonesian Government and Province of Bali for their ongoing commitment and support,” said Mitchell.

“Bali is known all around the world for its beaches and will provide the ultimate environment for our elite athletes, and stunning backdrops for our global audience.”

The Olympic Committee of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the only NOC to currently be suspended by the IOC.

North Korea was banned from fielding athletes at Beijing 2022 following the IOC’s decision in September last year.

The suspension, which is expected to run until the end of this year, was put in place after Bach ruled that the PRK NOC had breached the Olympic Charter by “failing to fulfil their obligation” to send a delegation to Tokyo 2020.

Concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic had been cited by the PRK NOC as the reason for its withdrawal but it was the only NOC not represented at the Games in the Japanese capital.

The Guatemalan Olympic Committee and Indian Olympic Association are under threat of joining the North Korean NOC on the IOC’s naughty step.

Both NOCs have been given final warnings by the IOC Executive Board because of governance problems.

This year’s Central American Games, which were due to be co-hosted by Guatemala and Costa Rica, have been cancelled because of the threat of suspension, while the next IOC Session, due to be hosted by India in Mumbai in 2023, has been moved from May to September or October.

The COG has been warned by the IOC that it will be suspended should it fail to resolve legal issues with its governance before October 15.

The IOA has also been told that it could face the same fate if problems with its governance are not sorted out “to the IOC’s satisfaction, in the interest of sport and the athletes” and if it is unable to operate through its Executive Committee and General Assembly and stage its quadrennial elections.

A decision is expected to be made when the IOC Executive Board next meets in December.

The two cases will be a cause for concern for ANOC as Mitchell aims to set a course for the future under his full-time leadership.

He is poised to be supported by Qatar Olympic Committee President Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani who is the only candidate to stand for ANOC senior vice-president.

Al-Thani was put forward by the Olympic Council of Asia as its nominee, while the four other continental associations will also nominate an individual to be elected as vice-president for the respective regions.

It will be the 26th edition of the ANOC General Assembly and it looks set to be one of the most important in its long history, with the Mitchell era due to officially begin after four years in the shadows of Sheikh Ahmad.

Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani will become ANOC's senior

vice-president. Photo: Getty Images

Sheikh The

Limboin

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah finds himself in a strange sort of limbo after being sentenced to at least 13 months in prison after being found guilty of forgery.

Sheikh Ahmad and four others had been accused of creating fake videos to prove two Kuwaiti Government officials were guilty of coup-plotting and corruption, charges proven in court in Geneva.

He has announced plans to appeal against the decision in September 2021 but until that is heard he remains self-suspended from the Olympic Movement.

Should Sheikh Ahmad’s appeal against the verdict fail, it is likely to spell the end of his career in sports politics.

He stood down as President of ANOC in November 2018 when the allegations first became public.

Robin Mitchell was supposed to be a temporary replacement for Sheikh Ahmad but, after an interim spell stretching nearly four years, that is about to be made permanent.

When Sheikh Ahmad had announced his plan at the ANOC General Assembly in Tokyo to step down for “a while” some delegates refused to accept it.

They claimed the case had nothing to do with his ANOC role, and there was an adjournment while legal discussions took place.

Sheikh Ahmad was then given a rapturous reception when he returned to give a second speech and the General Assembly quickly approved the earlier recommendation after he had urged them to do so.

At the time, most were optimistic that Sheikh Ahmad would be back soon. The appointment of Mitchell will end those hopes.

Duncan Mackay