Saudi Arabia welcomes first-ever NOC Conference at 2020 G20 Riyadh Summit

Saudi Arabia today welcomes the G20 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) Conference as part of the International Conferences Program at the virtual 2020 G20 Riyadh Summit, held on 21st - 22nd November, where ‘The Olympic Movement during and after COVID-19’ will be discussed.

Chaired by HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, President of Riyadh 2030 and the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee (SAOC), with Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as Honorary Chair, the NOC Conference will be the first of its kind at a G20 Summit. The SAOC and G20 Saudi Secretariat led virtual conference will host representatives from a series of international sports organisations including:

Olympic Council of Asia (OCA)

National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of the G20 countries

The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee (TOCOG)

Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF)

Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF)

Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF)

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

World Health Organisation (WHO)

Exploring the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Olympic Movement, the conference will consider how stakeholders across the Olympic ecosystem are responding to an ever-changing sporting landscape. Sustainable cooperation between NOCs and the role of sport in supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals will also be discussed.

The conference also reaffirms SAOC and the Riyadh 2030 Asian Games Bid’s commitment to supporting the Olympic Movement – especially in Asia – with a pledge to unify the continent through sport and celebration. Riyadh 2030 would be the first Asian Games hosted in Saudi Arabia and aligns with the nation’s Vision 2030 plan and the strategic direction led by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Creating an enduring legacy throughout Asia and inspiring a new generation of Olympic devotees is an overarching commitment of Riyadh’s bid to host the Asian Games. The G20 NOCs Conference will provide an opportunity for closer relationships between NOCs, Organising Committees and international sports organisations and guarantee the Olympic Movement’s longevity.

The NOC Conference follows the OCA Evaluation Committee’s successful visit to Riyadh where the city’s vision for a transformative event on a spectacular and sustainable stage was showcased. Throughout the Evaluation Committee’s visit, Riyadh 2030 outlined its mission to unify the whole of Asia with a celebration of sport and captivate a new generation of athletes and fans within the Asian Olympic movement.

HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, President of Riyadh 2030 and the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee said:

"We are honoured to be hosting the virtual G20 Olympic Conference as the Olympic Family comes together to discuss our COVID-19 recovery. During these unprecedented times, collaborating with our Olympic colleagues is an important and effective way to ensure we share insight and respond collectively to the ongoing public health crisis.

"As we welcome all our fellow Olympic stakeholders to the first ever NOC Conference at a G20 Summit we recognise the interconnected relationship between politics and sport and support the continued efforts to rebuild the international sports agenda. The Saudi Arabian Olympic family stands ready with the OCA and IOC to help Asian and Olympic sport recover from the Coronavirus pandemic and thrive for generations to come."

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