Thomas Bach on Trump, trans athletes, Putin and the Olympics in times of crisis

Thomas Bach on Trump, trans athletes, Putin and the Olympics in times of crisis

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, has experienced some of the most turbulent times in the Olympic movement during his 12 years in office. Amid a global pandemic and scandalous state-sponsored doping in Russia, he has consistently stressed the importance of keeping the Olympics away from political influences. As he prepares to pass the baton to his successor, his urgent appeal to future leaders remains: the Games must remain apolitical.

Bach's vision for the Olympic Games

Bach has a clear message to his successors: “Sport must be politically neutral, otherwise we cannot fulfill our mission of bringing the whole world together.” In an exclusive interview with CNN Sports He was optimistic about the unity of the athletes who lived together peacefully during the Paris Olympics - including athletes from Russia, Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and Yemen. “Despite the many wars and crises in this world, these athletes have set an example for peace,” said Bach.

The challenge of the upcoming games

With the Summer Olympics coming to Los Angeles in 2028, the games face an uncertain political landscape in the United States. The division in society is compounded by the controversial governance under President Donald Trump, whose direct and often disruptive leadership style is at odds with the IOC's diplomatic mission. Still, Bach is confident that Trump supports the Games' intentions, having seen him ride a motorcycle for the Los Angeles Olympics.

Sports and culture clashes

Despite this support, it is clear that athletes are not immune to Trump's policies. Trump's move to exclude transgender women from women's competitions is particularly controversial. This is one of the hottest debates in sport at the moment, which also affects the Olympic Games. Bach's challenge will be to convey understanding and facts in this emotionally charged discussion to defend the rights of all athletes.

Confronting controversial leaders

During his time as IOC president, Bach had to deal not only with athletes but also with controversial political leaders. He had a "very good relationship" with Vladimir Putin during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, but this was severely strained by the uncovered doping scandal and Russia's military intervention in Ukraine. Bach states: “The relationship deteriorated, and after the invasion we had to take new measures.”

With the impending handover of the IOC presidency to his successor, Bach strongly encourages upholding the values ​​of sport to create a safe and fair environment for all athletes. “I believe that the trials of sport make us stronger and bring us closer together,” Bach concludes.