Photo: AFP
Paris: Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, declared on Saturday during the Paris Games that he will not run for reelection a third time.
The 70-year-old German lawyer, who has headed the Olympic organisation since 2013, told an IOC meeting in the French capital, "New times call for new leaders." Although Bach acknowledged that he had been urged to continue in his position, he was adamant that he would not try to change the Olympic charter, which sets a 12-year maximum term for presidents.
"I know with this decision I am disappointing many of you... But it is in the best interests of our beloved Olympic movement," he told the IOC delegates.
The IOC's 143rd session, to be held in Greece on March 18–21, 2025, will decide his successor, who will start office in June of that same year.
The competition to succeed Bach is about to start, and some astute IOC observers are favouring 40-year-old Kirsty Coventry, a former swimmer from Zimbabwe, for the position.
In addition, Sebastian Coe, the chief of World Athletics and a two-time Olympic gold medallist from Great Britain in the 1500 meters, and Nicole Hoevertsz, a 60-year-old IOC vice-president from Aruba and former synchronised swimmer, have been mentioned as potential competitors.
It is expected that IOC Executive Board member Prince Feisal of Jordan would run as well.
Following his election as an IOC member at the age of 37, Bach—who competed in the foil fencing team event at the 1976 Olympics and won gold for West Germany—went on to assume a number of significant positions within the organisation, most notably that of founding member of the IOC's Athletes' Commission and succeeding Jacques Rogge.
"Change or be changed" was the slogan used by the Bavarian candidate during his 2013 election campaign. He claimed to represent the renewal of Olympia, especially with less expensive and more environmentally friendly Games, AFP reported.
"This mantra also applies to myself," he said, before pausing for a few moments, with tears in his eyes. Bach has made it clear that he opposes sports boycotts in an effort to draw a clear line between political conflict and the Olympics.
With the summer and Winter Olympic Games given until 2034, the next president will be able to look forward to the future with confidence. Additionally, Bach stated that prospective bidders showed "significant" interest in the 2036 and 2040 editions.