ANOC aims to benefit the Olympic Movement by strengthening relationships between the NOCs and for the first time in recent years, representatives from all NOCs were present at the General Assembly. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Federations, 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games Organising Committees and 2026 Winter Olympic Games Bid Committees also attended the conference.

“It was a great honour to join members of the Olympic family from across the world at the ANOC General Assembly,” declared IFSC VP Kobinata Toru. “As we pass the 600-day countdown to Tokyo 2020 and Sport Climbing’s first ever appearance in the Olympic Games, it felt pretty special to see all 206 NOCs meet together.”

The ANOC General Assembly 2018 marked 603 days to go until Tokyo 2020.

Tokyo 2020 preparations were reported on, followed by a review of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) which were held in Buenos Aires just one month before the General Assembly. Highlights of the YOG 2018 included a number of firsts for the event, with the first Olympic medals being awarded for Sport Climbing and an even number of men and women competing in the Games for the very first time. The YOG 2018 also celebrated its eighth year by achieving a higher level of coverage than its predecessors, making the event the most digitally-consumed to date.

“It was a fantastic feeling to see photographs from the Sport Climbing event in Buenos Aires included in the assembly, illustrating the success of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games,” elated President Scolaris.

An overview of the YOG 2018, featuring photographs from the first Olympic Sport Climbing event.

Aside from a number of Olympic updates, the General Assembly offered an overview of the ANOC World Beach Games 2019, where the IFSC has been invited to host a Bouldering event. The ANOC Beach Games, which are scheduled to take place in San Diego during October 2019, will feature 17 disciplines across 15 different sports. Sports chosen for the Games include beach, water and action sports, all chosen for their appeal to a younger audience.

Following the ANOC, IFSC President Marco Scolaris and VP Kobinata Toru joined Japan Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Association (JMSCA) President Yagihara Kuniaki and VP Hirayama Yuji for a special dinner, to talk about the upcoming IFSC Plenary Assembly (PA) and the 2019 IFSC World Championships. Both the PA and World Championships will be held in Tokyo.

Whilst in Tokyo President Scolaris and VP Kobinata Toru also met with Mr Takayuki Ishimori, Mayor of Hachioji, to discuss plans for the 2019 IFSC World Championships. Hachioji (located on the western side of Tokyo) is set to host the 2019 Championships, which will be the first opportunity for Olympic hopefuls to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Sport Climbing events. During the meeting President Scolaris assured Mayor Ishimori that the IFSC, working alongside the JMSCA, will deliver the best possible event in Hachioji 2019. In return, the Mayor confirmed his full support of the World Championships and his willingness to assist Sport Climbing on its journey towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“Meeting with Mayor Ishimori presented the IFSC with an opportunity to plan our partnership for the World Championships in August, as well as to prepare for future IFSC events in Hachioji,” stated President Scolaris. “We feel at home in Japan and I was extremely happy to see Hachioji’s determination to invest in our sport, both in the approach to Tokyo 2020 and beyond.”

IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris and Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru meet Mr Takayuki Ishimori, Mayor of Hachioji.