His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah (L), the president of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council, bids farewell to Alexey Balashov (R), Charge d'Affairs of Russia's Embassy to Brunei during his departure yesterday to Moscow to attend the XVIII Association of National Olympic Committee General Assembly & 2nd World Olympic sports convention.Picture: BT/ Saifulizam
His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah yesterday left for Moscow to attend the XVIII Association of National Olympic Committee (ANOC) General Assembly & 2nd World Olympic Sports Convention.
The president of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC), HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah was sent off at the Brunei International Airport by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah and other officials from the ministry.
According to a BDNOC official, all regional National Olympic Committees (NOCs) as opposed to individual NOCs will be submitting their annual reports during the four-day meeting at the Russian capital which kicks off tomorrow.
ANOC's website states that it affiliates all the NOCs recognised by the International Olympic Committee. Each NOC must belong to one of the five continental associations; Association of the National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), European Olympic Committees (EOC), Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) or Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) of which HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah is an executive committee member.
An annual general meeting will be held, though elections will not be contested.
Also on the agenda are presentations from the cities bidding for the 2020 Olympics.
The organising committees of the London 2012 Olympics, Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games will also give presentations or reports on their preparation.
ANOC's website also quoted its interim president calling for unity, solidarity and cooperation ahead of the General Assembly.
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who is also president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), believes it is crucial for the 204 NOCs belonging to ANOC to stand shoulder to shoulder for the good of the global Olympic Movement and contribute to 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.
"It is a great honour and a privilege for me personally and for the Olympic sports family in Asia in general to be appointed interim president of ANOC," he added.
Sheikh Ahmad also expressed his happiness that World Sports Convention would be taking place along the ANOC General Assembly, and said he was ready to welcome the worlds Sports Ministers to Moscow.
The two-day 2nd World Olympic Sports Convention which starts on Monday will see meetings held between the NOCs and sports ministers from the various participating countries, where they will discuss how to work together and support one another.
Courtesy from Brunei Times
