ANOC Award Unveiled: "A Golden Symbol of Humankind's Universal Potential for Sporting Excellence"

NOCs and world-class athletes to be presented first ever ANOC Award at ceremony with worldwide broadcast reach of 350 million households

The brand new ANOC Award, which will be presented to NOCs and athletes in recognition of their outstanding achievements, was unveiled today as ANOC makes its final preparations ahead of the first ANOC Gala Awards Dinner in Bangkok.

The ANOC Award – made by GDE Bertoni, the Italian trophy manufacturer behind the world-famous FIFA World Cup – has been designed to symbolise humankind’s universal potential for sporting excellence. The trophy depicts a figure standing in celebration, holding aloft the ANOC logo – the embodiment of the world’s 204 NOCs, united by sport across all five Olympic continents.

The ANOC Gala Awards will be distributed to more than 25 broadcasters around the world with a potential reach of 350 million households – the latest example of ANOC delivering on its promise to highlight and promote NOC best practices. All 204 NOCs and some of the world’s best athletes will be in attendance to receive the following ANOC Awards:

· ANOC Certificate for Breakthrough NOC at London 2012

· ANOC Award for Most Successful NOC in 2012

· ANOC Award for Best Female Athlete of London 2012

· ANOC Award for Best Male Athlete of London 2012

· ANOC Award for Best Female Team of London 2012

· ANOC Award for Best Male Team of London 2012

· ANOC Award for Most Successful NOC in 2014

· ANOC Award for Best Female Athlete of Sochi 2014

· ANOC Award for Best Male Athlete of Sochi 2014

· ANOC Award for Best Female Team of Sochi 2014

· ANOC Award for Best Male Team of Sochi 2014

· ANOC Award for Outstanding Performance

· ANOC Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement

ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said:

"There is a real sense of excitement as we approach the first ANOC Gala Awards Dinner. The NOCs work 365 days a year to promote sport and Olympism throughout their countries and provide the best possible support for their athletes. They, and their athletes, deserve to have an evening which recognises their hard work and an award which reflects the excellence of what they achieve. The 1st ANOC Gala Awards Dinner and ANOC Award will do just that. While not every NOC will receive an ANOC Award, we want it to be an evening of joy and celebration for all 204 NOCs."

The inaugural event will be hosted by IOC member and former equestrian champion, Mikaela Cojuangco-Jaworski from the Philippines; and Brazilian actor, Juliano Cazarré. World-class performers will showcase the cultural diversity of ANOC’s global membership with performances from each of the five continents.

ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg added:

"NOCs and their athletes are the very core of the Olympic Movement. We are delighted to be able to provide this platform for them which will reward their achievements. We have been working very closely with the Thai organising committee for many months to ensure that the ceremony is a wonderful celebration of Olympic achievement. I have no doubt that the 1st ANOC Gala Awards Dinner will be an event the NOCs and their athletes never forget."

For more information, please contactmedia@anocolympic.org, or Justin Shea (+44 7917 825 412).

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only