ANOC Awards 2015 to Honour Stars of Continental Games

ANOC reveals categories for The ANOC Awards 2015

The Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) today officially announced the award categories for The ANOC Awards 2015 which will honour the outstanding achievements and performances of athletes during the five Continental Games in 2014 and 2015.

The best male and best female athlete from each of the five Continental Games will be recognised during The ANOC Awards 2015 in Washington, D.C. on 29 October. In order to ensure that athletes were kept at the very heart of 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 Athletes’ Commissions were asked to consider athletes whose performances became an iconic part of the Games’ success and not just those athletes who had won the most medals. The ANOC Jury was then responsible for selecting the winners from the shortlist.

The ANOC Jury – made up of representatives from the five Continental Associations, the ASOIF President, the ANOC Secretary General, the ANOC Athletes’ Commission Chair, a media representative and a representative from the ANOC PR company – met in Kuala Lumpur in August to discuss and agree the ANOC Award winners from the Asian, European, Pan American and Pacific Games. Since the African Games took place in September, the same selection process was carried out remotely to select the winner from those Games.

In addition to the Continental Games awards, there will be a few additional ANOC Awards presented during the ceremony which focus on individual outstanding achievements.

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

"We are very excited about hosting the ANOC Awards for the second time. Last year’s inaugural ANOC Gala Awards Dinner was a great success and gave us an excellent opportunity to recognise and celebrate the work of NOCs and their athletes at the Olympic Games.

"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. 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.

"The Continental Games are very important to NOCs as they provide vital experience and qualification opportunities for their athletes ahead of an Olympic Games and showcase their talent on the world stage. 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."

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