The Croatian Olympic Committee has been working hard for months to welcome the 50 European NOCs and their traditional guests to the 46^th EOC General Assembly, on 24 and 25 November in their capital city, with various side meetings scheduled starting as of today.

While the Croatian capital city is hosting a General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees for the first time, the NOC headed by Zlatko Mateša already welcomed with great success the European Olympic Family for an EOC annual Seminar in Dubrovnik in 2009, and also a European Athletes’ Forum in Porec in 2013.

EOC officials, headed by Acting President Janez Kocijancic will welcome IOC President Thomas Bach, ANOC President Sheikh Al Sabah, many European IOC Members and the numerous delegations and stakeholders that are regular guests of the European family.

Close on 300 representatives from the Olympic Family will be in Zagreb, including IOC and NOC delegates, the organisers of forthcoming PyeongChang 2018, Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as well as delegates from the inaugural Baku 2015 European Games, the European Youth Olympic Festivals, many European Sports Federations and other sports institutions.

For one day and half participants will meet, listen to institutional reports, and exchange views and experiences. But above all the 50 European NOC delegations will elect the new EOC Executive Committee for the 2018-2021 quadrennial. The President, Secretary General and Treasurer will stand unopposed, whilst there are two candidates for the post of Vice-President, and 23 contenders for the 12 executive committee posts available.

Three significant moments at the Zagreb General Assembly will be the 2017 EOC Order of Merit, the 7th Piotr Nurowski Summer Prize for the Best European Young Athlete and the 2017 EOC Olympic Laurels awards.

As usual, on the eve of the General Assembly, what is at this stage the outgoing EOC Executive Committee will hold its last meeting. Various other meetings, including the 2017 EYOF debriefing, have been scheduled alongside the Assembly.