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BRAZILIAN NOC BUILDS ON RIO 2016 SUCCESS BY HOSTING SCHOOL GAMESSIX ATHLETES ELECTED TO BOA COMMISSIONInspired by the success of the Olympic Games Rio 2016, more than 3,000 young athletes aged 15-17 took part in the School Games in November, held over nine days in the city of João Pessoa in the state of Paraíba. This event, which has been organised by the Brazilian Olympic Committee since 2005, is the largest sports competition in Brazil. Its aim is to contribute to the social integration of young people through sport and to identify high-level athletes for the future. With the beginning of the new Olympic cycle, attention was focused on identifying athletes who will represent Brazil at upcoming international sporting events such as the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018, the Pan American Games in Lima (Peru) in 2019 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Fifty-two athletes who had competed in the School Games were part of the Brazilian delegation at the Olympic Games Rio 2016. Slovak NOC elects new PresidentAnton Siekel was elected as the third President of the Slovak Olympic Committee (SOC) at its 51st elective general assembly on 26 November. Siekel, 47, is Honorary President of the Slovak Judo Federation and was serving as president of the SOC’s Foundation at the time of his election. Siekel expressed his gratitude to his predecessor František Chmelár, and joined him in paying a visit to IOC Honorary Member and Honorary SOC President Vladimir Černušák on the occasion of his 95th birthday.New President for Gambia NOCThe President of the Gambia Athletics Association, Dodou Capy Joof, was elected President of the Gambia NOC for a four-year term at the NOC’s elective congress on 5 November. Lamin Kaba Bajo, President of the Gambia Football Federation, was elected as Second Vice-President of the NOC, while Abdoulie Jallow, Secretary General of the Gambia Basketball Association, was re-elected as NOC Secretary General. Ousman Abou Wadda was re-elected as NOC Treasurer.NEWS IN BRIEFLeft Judoka and Olympic bronze medallist Mayra Aguiar previously competed at the School GamesSix athletes have been appointed to the British Olympic Association’s (BOA) Athletes’ Commission after voting closed on the election of new members.Adam Gemili (athletics), James Rodwell (rugby sevens), Joanna Rowsell Shand (cycling), Elizabeth Simmonds (swimming) and Lizzy Yarnold (skeleton) will all join the commission for the first time in 2017, while Katherine Grainger (rowing) was re-elected.In total, more than 800 eligible Olympians and prospective Olympians voted in the election with 18 athletes standing for the six positions. The Athletes’ Commission is made up of 14 members including Chair Ben Hawes and the IOC Athletes’ Commission representative Adam Pengilly. The commission, which was created in 2010 to bring the perspective and expertise of Olympic athletes to the BOA’s programmes and initiatives, ensures that athletes remain at the heart of everything the organisation does.22 OLYMPIC REVIEW