Sheikh Ahmad declares Association of National Olympic Committees headquarters officially open

Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah declares the ANOC headquarters open ©ANOC

Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah declared the new Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) headquarters officially open here this evening following a garden party attended by around 250 members of the sporting family, including International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach.

Although only officially opened today, the renovated building, located a five-minute walk from the Palace Hotel, has already hosted several high-profile events, including two meetings of the ANOC Executive Council and the European Olympic Committees Executive Board.

It has "dramatically increased" ANOC's capacity, it is claimed, with modern facilities to ensure ANOC can continue to provide the best support to its NOCs.

"I am delighted to welcome you all here today for the inauguration of the ANOC headquarters," Sheikh Ahmad said.

"I would like to thank the NOCs, the ANOC Executive Council, all the IF (International Federation) Presidents who cooperated with us and of course the city of Lausanne.

"I am very happy as we started this project with our Honorary President Jacques Rogge and finished it with President Bach so we did it with two generations and two leaders."

Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah poses with figures including past and present IOC Presidents, Jacques Rogge and Thomas Bach, as well as European Olympic Committees chief, Patrick Hickey ©ANOC — Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah poses with figures including past and present IOC Presidents, Jacques Rogge and Thomas Bach, as well as European Olympic Committees chief Patrick Hickey ©ANOC

Along with Bach and his colleagues on the Executive Board, the opening was attended by a combination of IOC members and representatives of National Olympic Committees and International Federations.

Also present were hefty delegations from Almaty and Beijing, the two cities bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, including the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Karim Massimov.

Bach himself was late due to speaking at a press conference which followed the conclusion of the Executive Board meeting over the last two days.

He joked his delay was "because he had to answer so many questions about the opening of the new ANOC headquarters.

“It is a great pleasure to be here," he added, once he had belatedly arrived.

"With this house we have a very happy situation where a friend is becoming a neighbour and this will only enhance the friendship and collaboration between the IOC and ANOC.

"We are always ready to be at your side and give good advice or assistance when requested and needed.”

The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of the inauguration stone and the presentation of the Millennium Portal to the ANOC President by Bach as he declared the IOC’s doors were “always open".