The Association of National Olympic Committees -ANOC- marked on Tuesday in Hong Kong the one-year countdown to its XXVIII General Assembly, an event that will bring together in the Asian city more than 200 National Olympic Committees alongside representatives from the International Olympic Committee -IOC-, International Federations, Olympic Games Organising Committees and other key stakeholders of the Olympic Movement.
The General Assembly will take place in 2026 and will gather the Olympic Family over three days in a programme focused on strategic debate, institutional cooperation and the global development of sport. The meeting will also have an elective character, with the election of ANOC’s leadership for the 2027–2030 term.
An elective General Assembly with strategic reach
ANOC President Robin Mitchell underlined that Hong Kong “will provide an outstanding platform for the NOC family to unite and chart the path forward”, stressing that the elective nature of the Assembly will “ensure that ANOC continues to serve the needs of National Olympic Committees worldwide”. Mitchell also emphasised that the General Assembly remains “our most important gathering”, as it brings together NOCs, the IOC, International Federations and partners of the Olympic Movement in a single forum.
The programme of the Hong Kong General Assembly will consist of two days of ANOC plenary sessions, followed by a third day dedicated to the Special Theme Sessions, focused on the key challenges and opportunities facing National Olympic Committees and the wider international sports system. The first day will conclude with the ANOC Awards, recognising the most outstanding athletes and NOCs from the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games.
The Cascais precedent and its economic impact
The XXVII General Assembly held in Cascais became one of ANOC’s most significant recent benchmarks. According to figures released by the organisation, the event generated a direct economic impact of £2.47 million for the host city and its surrounding region. This model is now set to be projected onto Hong Kong as the next venue for ANOC’s flagship annual forum.
The Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee and Vice President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Kenneth K. K. Fok, highlighted the strategic value of the host city, stating that “Hong Kong, recognised as Asia’s mega-event capital and a dynamic bridge between East and West, will host the XXVIII ANOC General Assembly as an unparalleled international platform”.
Fok also stressed the institutional support of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and noted that the objective is “to collaboratively forge a global blueprint for the future of sport, generating profound economic, social and sporting impact on an international scale”.
Institutional coordination and progressive preparations
ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg welcomed the progress of preparations and the close cooperation with the Local Organising Committee and the Hong Kong authorities, noting that “the cooperation is excellent and we are working as one team with all stakeholders involved”.
Lindberg added that this level of coordination strengthens the organisation’s confidence that the next General Assembly will be a high-level meeting, capable of reflecting “the solidarity among National Olympic Committees and the collective ability to address the challenges facing the Olympic Movement in the coming years”.
