Thomas Bach: End of an era in the IOC - who are the new challengers?

Thomas Bach: End of an era in the IOC - who are the new challengers?

In an epochal turning point for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), President Thomas Bach announced his resignation on June 23, 2025. The 71-year-old will no longer run for a third term in office after a total of twelve years in office. Bach, who won the fencing Olympic gold in 1976, said the decision was a question of credibility: "New times call for new leaders," said the outgoing president, who explained his motives as part of the IOC session. He clarified his resignation in order to maintain the integrity of the Olympic Charter, since a new candidacy with the current regulation would not have been possible, such as laola1.at reported.

On March 20, his successor will be elected at the IOC session in Costa Navarino, Costa Navarino, with a total of seven candidates to election, including the British athletics president Sebastian Coe. Bach's withdrawal takes place in the middle of internal discussions as to whether a reform of the statutes should be initiated in order to enable him to extend his term. Some IOC members pleaded for such a change to keep the existing president in office, but ultimately Bach decided to enable the handover and to pave the way for new leaders href = "https://www.br.de/nachrichten/sport/nach-zwoelf-jahren-im-bach-stalt-2025-als-Ic-prasident-ab.Ul4hoss" Target = "_ blank"> Br.de reported.

The signals for changing management at the IOC could result in far -reaching changes in the organization. While Bach took over his office in 2013 as the successor to the Belgian Jacques Rogge, there have been demands for reforms and a modern leadership in recent years. "These conversations impressed me very much and touched my heart," emphasized Bach, who sees his resignation as a necessary step for the renewal of the Olympic Spirit.