The largest ever ANOC General Assembly gathered in the city of Prague from 31 October to 4^th November for the XXII ANOC General Assembly and related meetings bringing together over 1,300 delegates from across the Olympic Movement including 205 NOCs, the IOC, IFs and OCOGs.

Once again, the ANOC Awards were the highlight of the gala dinner, when the best female and best male athletes of all five continents were honored for their exceptional sporting achievements throughout the year, as well as three individual accolades – Outstanding performance, Contribution to the Olympic Movement and Outstanding Lifetime Achievement.

Swimmer Sarah Sjöström (Sweden) and Alpine ski racer Marcel Hirscher (Austria) received the award as Best Female and Best Male Athlete from Europe 2017, while iconic gymnast Nadia Comaneci (Romania) received individual Outstanding Performance honor.

The General Assembly was opened by ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah in the presence of IOC President Thomas Bach, Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Ivo Šrámek and Czech Olympic Committee President Jiri Kejval.

The European Olympic Committees were represented in Prague by Acting President Janez Kocijancic (SLO), Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi (ITA), elected members Roger Talermo(FIN), Vlade Divac (SRB) and Ms Nese Gundogan (TUR). Kocijancic reported to his colleagues from all over the Olympic world about the Continental Association activities.

The ANOC concluded its working sessions by agreeing on 13 resolutions. Among priorities: protecting clean athletes, implementing the highest standards of good governance, supporting the IOC Agenda 2020, outcome of the Olympic Summit, toolkit for the Olympic Movement to safeguard athletes from harassment and abuse in sport, applauding the progress made on the ANOC World Beach Games.

“It has been another fantastic year of sport all around the world. We have been lucky enough to witness some incredible sporting moments. The athletes and their respective NOCs and International Federations are at the very heart of the Olympic Movement and it is their dedication that we see year-on-year that helps create the amazing memories we have celebrated tonight,” commented ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.