Lausanne, 17^th June the ANOC extraordinary general assembly ended on a high note and the 800 delegates from across the world have now left the Olympic capital for a spate of rest after a very busy weekend.

Chaired by ANOC president HRH Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah and attended by 201 out of the 204 NOCs recognised by the IOC, the assembly took an important step in the history of the Association when it approved by 200 votes and one abstention its new constitution, designed to serve, promote and protect the interests of the NOCS in a truly democratic way, as pointed out by president Al Sabah.

The process of modernisation launched under the new president focuses on the athletes, and for this purpose an athletes commission, hitherto nonexistent, will now be set up.

The Lausanne Assembly also greeted for the last time in his capacity as President of the IOC Jacques Rogge, who was awarded the ANOC Merit Award for the second time, and who wished the man who has taken over from Mario Vazquez Rañas every success for his “creative and ambitious” plans.

The delegations present, including the 49 NOCs of Europe led by EOC president Patrick Hickey, who is also ANOC senior vice president, heard 19 reports, including one from London 2012, and those from future organisers, with Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 and Pyeongchang 2018, and the Nanjing 2014 and Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Festivals. Another highlight was the presentations from the candidate cities for the 2020 Games: Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid.

As the ANOC General Assembly will from here on take place every year, there will be a 2014 assembly, which will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, whilst the one for 2015 will be held in Washington DC, USA, and the one for 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

As for the ANOC Executive Council, following its meeting in Lausanne on the eve of the assembly, it will meet again this year on 6^th September in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and then on 9^th December in Lausanne, Switzerland, whilst for 2014 Sheikh Al Sabah will host one at the new headquarters of the Olympic Council of Asia in Kuwait on 31^st March, which will be followed by meetings in Nanjing on 8^th August and Chiang Mai on 5^th November.