Tibbs Forsakes Olympic Bids for ANOC

The Association of National Olympic Committees steps up its game with the hiring of two major consulting firms, Jon Tibbs and Associates and MP Silva.

JTA, based in the UK, will handle brand development and global communications for the 204-member organization which represents the world’s National Olympic Committees. MP Silva, based in Singapore, is charged with developing events for ANOC and managing broadcast rights.

"I am delighted at these significant new appointments. ANOC is committed to enhancing the level of support we provide to NOCs all over the world by professionalizing every aspect of our organization," says ANOC president Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al-Sabah in a statement.

The sheikh took over the presidency of ANOC in 2012, vowing to bring changes that would modernize the organization and make it more active.

"We are honored and keen to work with ANOC as it changes under Sheikh Ahmad," Tibbs tells Around the Rings.

But the association means a change of business strategy for JTA, which has been closely associated with a series of Olympic bids, beginning with Beijing 2008.

"We will not be taking any business involved with applicant or candidate cities in the 2022 Winter Games race," says Tibbs, who adds that "it’s a good time to step back as the IOC looks at changes to the bid process".

Tibbs notes that the demise of a Munich bid for 2022 was another factor in this strategy change. His firm worked closely with the unsuccessful bid for 2018, and might have been selected to work with 2022, but the rejection of a new bid by voters in Bavaria in November ended that chance.

Tibbs says that close association with Munich probably made it impractical to seek a client from the field of six cities currently in the applicant phase of the race. Almaty, Beijing, Kraków, Lviv, Oslo, and Stockholm are the early contenders.

In addition to this new assignment, other JTA clients include Sochi 2014, Generations for Peace, the European Olympic Committees, Russia International Olympic University, and the Manchester United football club.

MP Silva is expected to be involved with plans to create new sports events for ANOC. Its first assignment is the staging of the first ANOC Gala Awards Ceremony during the general assembly scheduled in Bangkok next November.

"ANOC’'s plans to develop a brand awareness campaign and new activities in the Olympic calendar are very much welcomed and necessary," said Peter Hutton, joint-CEO of MP & Silva.

"MP & Silva'’s had great experience in working in a close media partnership with the Olympic Council of Asia, and we are confident that these organizations can make a great impact in the way they organize sporting events and communicate their values through the international broadcasting media."

Reported by Ed Hula

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