Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has confirmed that he will step down following the conclusion of his second term in 2025.
Bach, who has been in charge since 2013, told IOC members at a session during the conclusion of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris that he would not run for re-election.
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Bach said: “After 12 years in the office of IOC president our organization is best served with a change in leadership. New times are calling for new leaders.”
If Bach had wanted to stay on, a change in the IOC’s statutes would have been required – currently, the president is limited to two terms (eight years followed by four years), coming to 12 years in total.
Many observers had expected Bach and the IOC to move towards making this change – but Bach, involved with the Swiss-based body since 1991, and last re-elected in 2021, has now confirmed this will not be the case.
The new IOC president will be elected next March during an IOC session in Olympia, Greece, Bach confirmed. They will then take charge in June 2025.
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By GlobalDataOne of the most likely candidates to stand to succeed Bach will be Sebastian Coe, currently president of the World Athletics body.
Coe, speaking over the weekend about the prospect of running for the presidency, said: “I have always made it clear that if the opportunity arose, then I would obviously give it serious thought. The opportunity has arisen and clearly I need to think about it. I would consider it.”
IOC rules mean that no candidate is able to declare until three months before the election (meaning, this December).
The World Athletics president added, referring to his various previous roles – chair of the London 2012 games, and of the British Olympic Association – that: “I have chaired an Olympic Games from bid to delivery and two years of legacy after that. I have been privileged to compete in two Olympic Games.
“I have chaired a national Olympic committee, and I now have the best job in the world as president of the number-one Olympic sport.
“These are experiences that if you put together, as well as other aspects of my life, I think would be beneficial to the role.”
He added, however: “There are other potential candidates with qualifications for the role …
“If you believe in good governance and you believe in change, I would encourage others. I believe that choice is important and I think the membership needs to have a good range of qualified people to look at.”
Coe is currently himself in a third term heading up World Athletics, having most recently been re-elected unopposed last year.
Before moving into sports administration, Coe won four medals in the Olympics, including golds in 1980 and 1984.
