(ATR) The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Awards, launched last November in Bangkok as part of a Gala dinner, will be a key attraction at this year’s ANOC General Assembly in Washington, D.C.
Implementing a new format, athletes who excelled during continental games in 2015 will receive honors. At the inaugural awards, it was only athletes and NOCs who delivered outstanding performances at London 2012 and Sochi 2014 who were honored.
The ANOC Awards 2015 will be held on October 29 at the DAR Constitution Hall.
ANOC president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said it should be another memorable evening.
"We are very excited about hosting the ANOC Awards for the second time," he said.
"Last year’s inaugural ANOC Gala Awards Dinner was a great success and gave us an excellent opportunity to recognize and celebrate the work of NOCs and their athletes at the Olympic Games."
The best male and female athletes representing the Asian, European, Pan American, African and Pacific Games will be chosen. Facilitating the selection process, ANOC asked each of the Continental Associations’ Athletes’ Commissions to select a shortlist of the three best male and three best female athletes from the Games. The ANOC Jury was then responsible for selecting the winners from the shortlist.
"This year, with the focus on the Continental Games, we wanted to do things slightly differently but still ensure that the concept of the ANOC Awards – to celebrate NOCs and their athletes – remained unchanged," Sheikh Ahmad said.
"We wanted the awards to be for the athletes by the athletes and enlisting the help of the Continental Associations’ Athletes’ Commissions was integral in making sure the athletes’ voice was heard.
"Over the last year we have been fortunate to have witnessed five wonderful Continental Games full of exceptional athlete performances and we look forward to reliving these moments with them during the ANOC Awards 2015."
In addition to the continental games awards, there will be a few additional ANOC Awards presented during the ceremony which will focus on individual outstanding achievement.
ANOC secretary general and awards jury member Gunilla Lindbergh said the dinner will be a special occasion.
"It’s a top secret until the night itself, where you will once again have the red carpet to walk in on," Lindbergh said. "We will have a few other awards in Washington but not as many [as Bangkok]."
Delegates from a record setting 206 NOCs will convene for the annual General Assembly in the U.S. capital, Oct. 29-30. The event is returning to the U.S. for the first time since 1994, when Atlanta hosted the meeting two years prior to staging the 1996 Olympics.
Written by Brian Pinelli
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