Julius OkorieJuan Antonio Samaranch Jr, the son of long-time IOC President, Juan Antonio Samaranch, and current World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, have been tipped to succeed International Olympic President, Thomas Bach who is set to down from his post.
The second and final term of Current IOC President Thomas Bach expires in 2025 and the German has hinted of his readiness to step down accordingly.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelBach made the announcement at the IOC Session on the penultimate day of the Paris Olympics, saying the Olympic Movement is “best served with a change of leadership
“New times are calling for new leaders,” Bach said. “I, with my age, am not the best captain. I know with this decision I am disappointing many of you.”
Bach who turns 72 in December is a German lawyer, former foil fencer, and Olympic gold medalist. He has served as the ninth and current president of the International Olympic Committee since 2013, the first ever Olympic champion to be elected to that position.
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The German 1976 fencing gold medallist was elected in 2013 for an eight-year term as successor of Belgian surgeon Jacques Rogge and earned another four-year term in 2021.
According to the charter, no more than 12 years at the top of the world’s most important sports organisation are allowed.
But at last year’s session, several IOC members had asked for a change of the charter and Bach to stay longer.
Though humbled by the feeling and desires of IOC members, Bach however insisted that the charter needs to be respected.
The IOC ethics committee had asked Bach not to speak out on the issue until the end of the Paris Games, because a statement in any direction could have overshadowed it.
He said on Saturday that a new leader has to take charge in a more and more digital and politically pressured world.
New IOC President To Be Elected In March 2025 In Greece
Bach oversaw the Olympic Agenda 2020 reform package which changed the bidding process and the hosting of the Games, and most recently the first e-sports Olympics were announced.
But he was also accused of being too close with Russian president Vladimir Putin.His reign also saw the Russian state-sponsored doping programme in general and at the Sochi 2024 Games in particular.
The new IOC president will be elected at next year’s Session in Greece in March, and to take over on Olympic Day 23rd June, when Bach will step down. The IOC which was founded on June 23, 1894 is yet to have a woman in its 130 years of existence.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
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