Youngest State, long sport tradition

Right after the acception, in the night between 6th and 7th July, local time, on the IOC web site appeared text with public congratulations to new members.

Presentations of these two contries followed the congratulations. Headline of the text dedicated to Montenegro was "Youngest state, long sport tradition", and it says:
"Montenegro, located in South-East Europe, is the youngest state in the World.
Montenegro, part of Yugoslavia, later on part of the State Union Serbia and Montenegro became independent state and member of the United Nations in 2006, and has 650.000 inhabitants. This country has long sport tradition and its athletes have given significant contribution to Yugoslav sport results. On Regional, International and Olympic events, Montenegrin athletes were especially good in water-polo, handball, volleyball, basketball, boxing and judo. Today, Montenegro has 40.000 registered athletes in 1.200 registered sport clubs and 39 national sport associations. Seven of these associations have been recognised in International sports federations of the Olympic sports."

Than follows the text about Tuvalu, group of small islands in the Pacific, with 12.000 inhabitants, country which became member of the UN in 2000.

Current number of National Olympic Committes is 205.

It was stated that both organizations have comletely fulfilled all necessary conditions for recognition by the IOC: both Montenegro and Tuvalu are independent states, recognised by international community and have at least five sport associations which are members of international sport federations of Olympic sports.

Recognised by the IOC, National Olympic Committeea became members of Associations of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).

On 119. session of the IOC were elected its new four members, so current number is 115, maximal number foresessn by its acts. Also, three honorary members were elected (now there are 24), and for another mandate (of four years) was reelected Gerhard Haiberg, member of the Executive Board, current President of the IOC’s Marketing Commision and member of the TV rigts and Media Commission. Election of the Princess Haya Al-Husein from UAE, and Ritev Subovo, President of Indonesian Olympic Committee, shows desire of the IOC to give an example in increasing the number of women in sport organizations.

Besides two of them, Patric Bauman from Switzerland, Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Andre Botero, President of the Columbian Olympic Committee were elected.
Four of them were elected for eight years period.

What is National Olympic Committee

According to the Olympic Charter, mission of the National Olympic Committee is to promote fundamental principles of Olympism in sports on national level.

National Olympic Committee has lots of obligations and authorizations. In brief, it is in charge for development of athletes and support of sport in its respective country, according to highest standards. It is involved in training of sports administration by organisation of educational programs.

NOC ensures participation of athletes from its respective country on the Olympic Games.

Only NOC, recognised by the IOC, is allowed to choose and send teams and competitors on the OG.

National Olympic Committee supervises preliminary selection of the potential host city of the OG: before candidate city is known as rival to other cities from other countries, iy has to win in the selection process organised by the NOC in the respective country.

Although majority of National Olympic Committees come from internationally recognised sovereign states, the IOC also recognises NOCs of some independent territories, commonvealths, protectorates and geografical areas.

National Olympic Committees by membership in the IOC become also members of adequate continental associations of National Olympic Committees, five in total.