A movement for Thomas Bach to be allowed to remain as President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after his current term ends in 2025 was launched here today.
Algeria’s Mustapha Berraf, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, raised the idea of Bach being allowed to continue on the opening morning of the 141st IOC Session.
Under the current rules of the Olympic Charter, Bach should have to step down after serving a 12-year term.
Berraf was supported by Dominican Republic Olympic Committee President Luis Mejía Oviedo and Djibouti’s Aïcha Garad Ali.
IOC vice-president John Coates of Australia, head of the Legal Commission, told delegates that a written proposal to amend the Charter must be submitted 30 days before a Session.
That would require consideration by the ruling Executive Board first among a series of measures in the process.
Bach, elected as IOC President for an eight-year term at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires in 2013 when he replaced Jacques Rogge and given a further four-year mandate in 2021, did not rule out extending his period at the head of the organization.
“First of all say thank you very much for your kind words of support, because I think these words of support are not only directed to me, they are directed to all of us,” Bach told the IOC Session.
“What made us overcome the challenges we had was exactly this unity, this support which you expressed with regard to many items overall at the time, and we can only be credible if we are appealing to all these divisive forces in the world if we are appealing to respect the unifying of sport if we ourselves are unified.
“Otherwise, we have no credibility. If we are divided, how can we teach others about unity and our unifying power.”
If Bach is allowed to stand for another term, it would almost certainly end the hopes of IOC members considering a run to succeed him.
This would include Britain’s double Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe, the President of World Athletics, and Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch, whose father led the IOC between 1980 and 2001.
Japan’s International Gymnastics Federation President Morinari Watanabe, himself mentioned as a potential candidate to replace Bach, warned that the IOC “must be a role model” for International Federations.
He told Bach “I love you” and commended his leadership, but stressed the need for “good governance”.
“You also know I am very loyal to the Olympic Charter,” Bach said.
“Being a core author of this Olympic Charter drives me to be more loyal to this Olympic Charter.
“You have heard the explanation of the chair of our Legal Commission in this direction.
“Thank you very much again, I am very touched by your support and friendship.”
