Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) President Alejandro Blanco has officially announced his candidacy for the presidency of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), stepping into the global sports governance race ahead of the organization’s upcoming elections in December.
Blanco, who has led the Spanish Olympic Committee since September 2005, confirmed his bid for the international leadership post on September 11, 2026. The 75-year-old stated that his decision stems from continuous encouragement and backing from colleagues and Olympic Movement leaders across multiple continents. He aims to succeed Fiji’s Robin Mitchell, who has headed the international body since 2022.
«He presentado mi candidatura con ilusión, compromiso, responsabilidad y una idea muy clara: servir a los 206 Comités Olímpicos Nacionales», señaló Blanco through social media channels, as reported by EFE. His platform centers on fostering an independent, unified, and robust international organization capable of addressing the practical needs of every national delegation under the banner of listening, uniting, and delivering.
The Path to the ANOC Presidency
The upcoming leadership transition marks a critical juncture for ANOC, which was established in 1979 to coordinate and protect the collective interests of the world’s recognized Olympic committees. Throughout its history, the organization has seen three leaders: Mexico’s Mario Vázquez Raña, who served from 1979 until 2012; Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who held the office from 2012 until 2018; and Robin Mitchell, who assumed leadership initially on an interim basis before winning election in 2022.
Blanco enters the race as a familiar figure within global Olympic governance, currently serving as a European member on the ANOC executive council. Domestically, his tenure at the helm of the COE spans over two decades, having been reelected five times as a sole candidate following his initial appointment on September 29, 2005. Prior to leading Spanish Olympic sports, he presided over the Federación Española de Judo from 1993 until his transition to the COE.
Electoral Timeline and Requirements
Under the constitutional guidelines of ANOC, prospective candidates must secure a formal nomination from their own national Olympic committee, alongside a second endorsement from an additional member organization. The window for submitting these formal requirements closed on September 9, 2026. Global sports administrators await the official confirmation of candidate lists, which the organization will publish no later than October 9, 2026.
Over the intervening months, Blanco plans to conduct a direct listening tour with representatives from the five continental associations to shape a collaborative governance agenda. The decisive vote will take place during the ANOC General Assembly, scheduled for December 7–8, 2026, in Hong Kong.
