The Executive Council of the Association of National Olympic Committees held a key meeting in Cape Verde to review the status of the organization’s main programs and discuss the priorities that will shape its work over the coming year. The meeting brought together representatives from different regions of the world at a particularly important moment for the Olympic Movement, not only because of the proximity of new multisport events, but also because of the challenges National Olympic Committees face in terms of funding, sustainability, digitalization and athlete support.

The meeting also carried strong symbolic significance as it was held on African soil. During the opening, Carlos Monteiro welcomed the delegates and reaffirmed Cape Verde’s willingness to remain an ally of the Olympic Movement. Along the same lines, Mustapha Berraf and Filomena Fortes highlighted the importance of holding this type of meeting in Africa, understanding that the continent is playing an increasingly relevant role in global sports development and in creating new opportunities for NOCs.

Programs aimed at strengthening NOCs

One of the main topics on the agenda was the update on the programs that ANOC is developing to provide more direct support to National Olympic Committees. Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg and Director of NOC Relations Gustavo Harada presented a detailed review of the initiatives currently underway and those that will be expanded in the coming months.

Among them, the Peak Uniform Project stands out, as it will expand its reach to support NOCs at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, an event that will be especially significant as it will be the first Olympic edition ever held in Africa. Progress was also highlighted regarding the Sustainability Accelerator Program, which recently launched a Sustainability Dashboard for NOCs, as well as developments in the Digital Accelerator Program and projects implemented in preparation for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Added to this is the growth of ANOC.tv, which has expanded its presence at major events over the past year and aims to become an increasingly useful tool for connecting NOCs and their communities.

Elections, planning and the future of the organization

Another central topic of the meeting was the upcoming ANOC General Assembly, which this year will carry special significance due to the election of a new president and a new senior vice president. Members of the Executive Council received detailed information about the timelines, procedures and requirements for nominations in a process that will be decisive in defining the organization’s leadership for the coming years.

Timothy Fok reported that preparations for the General Assembly are progressing positively and that both the agenda and the preliminary program of the meeting have already been presented. The objective, according to discussions during the meeting, is to ensure a more participatory, useful and interactive gathering for National Olympic Committees. At the same time, Chair of the ANOC Finance Commission Dagmawite Berhane presented the organization’s financial report, while ANOC President Robin Mitchell described the meeting as an opportunity to exchange ideas and prepare the path toward a new phase under the framework promoted by the International Olympic Committee and its initiative “Ready for the Future”.