(ATR) The European Olympic Committees hold its annual general assembly in Minsk, the first time in the capital of Belarus.
The executive board meets Thursday, followed by the assembly on Friday and Saturday.
For the first time since he was elected EOC president in 2006, Patrick Hickey of Ireland will not chair the assembly. Hickey, IOC member and Olympic Council of Ireland president, voluntarily suspended his Olympic functions shortly after he was arrested in Rio de Janeiro on charges that he violated Brazilian laws on the resale of Olympic tickets. He’s barred from leaving Brazil while he faces a possible trial, date not yet set, perhaps months away.
In Hickey’s absence, former Slovenia NOC president Janez Kocijancic and EOC vice president, will lead the meetings over the next three days.
Among the pending decisions for the EOC is where to host the 2019 edition of the European Games, now a year overdue. Russia, originally preferred, has been ruled out due to the controversy over the country’s anti-doping program.
Minsk is said to be the new favorite, but Around the Rings is told that no decision is expected at this week’s meeting.
A new logo for the 50-member EOC is supposed to be unveiled at the at the assembly long with other new branding elements.
Muted Presence of the 2024 Bids
The three remaining bid cities for the 2024 Games will not send official delegations to the European Olympic Committees General Assembly.
ATR is told the annual EOC assembly in Minsk, Belarus is not on the list of approved events for the bid cities to promote their candidacies.
"We respect this rule therefore there will be no presence from our side," Budapest 2024 spokesperson Ivan Rozsa tells ATR.
Los Angeles 2024 spokesperson Jeff Millman said the absence of the bid cities marked a change from last year’s assembly.
"Unlike last year, this year's EOC General Assembly is not part of the IOC candidate city calendar of events, but we hope to see European sport leaders at the ANOC General Assembly in November and other events before the 130th IOC session in Lima," Millman tells ATR.
Although Paris 2024 will not have an official delegation at the assembly, members of the bid team will be attending on behalf of the French Olympic Committee and the IOC. ATR is told bid co-chairman Tony Estanguet and member of the Paris 2024 board of directors Guy Drut will attend the two-day meeting in Minsk.
The assembly is expected to discuss the bidding process for the 2019 European Games now seeking a host for its second edition following Baku 2015. It will also be the first assembly without former president Patrick Hickey since he became president in 2006. Hickey is awaiting trial in Brazil for his alleged involvement in a ticketing scandal at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The EOC executive board will hold its meeting on Oct. 20 before the general assembly begins on Oct. 21. The meeting will draw to a close on Oct. 22.
Written by Ed Hula and Kevin Nutley.
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