HK to host 2026 National Olympic Committees assembly

Hong Kong has been approved to host the 2026 General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees for the first time, with the city’s sports chief describing it as a show of international confidence in the city’s sports capabilities.

The association, which consists of 206 National Olympic Committees, announced at a meeting in Cascais, Portugal on Thursday that the SAR had won the bid to organize the event.

The international sports body plans to organize a five-day gathering in Hong Kong, which will include seminars and an awards ceremony.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said in a statement Friday that the successful bid demonstrates international confidence in Hong Kong's capacity to host large-scale sports events.

"The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will fully support and guide the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China in hosting this important international meeting, co-ordinating close co-operation between relevant government departments and various sectors including tourism and business," he said.

The president of the sports federation and Olympic committee, Timothy Fok, said they will start working with government departments as well as the sports and business sectors to prepare for the assembly.

The 2026 meeting is expected to be held in the second half of the year. The Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China expects over 1,200 overseas and local delegates to participate in the meeting. Members of the International Olympic Committee, Global Association of International Sports Federations, and the Olympic Games organizing committee will also be invited to attend.