news

한어Русский языкEnglishFrançaisIndonesianSanskrit日本語DeutschPortuguêsΕλληνικάespañolItalianoSuomalainenLatina

[Global Times Special Correspondent Liu Haoran] According to the Associated Press, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), suddenly announced his resignation on August 10, and the new president will be elected at the IOC high-level meeting in Athens, Greece in March next year. In the eyes of international public opinion, Bach's decision was quite unexpected, because in the past two years, the IOC has continuously released "smoke bombs" to amend the Olympic Charter and extend the term of the president. Bach himself also said last year that he did not rule out the possibility of staying in office after the expiration of the term. The media speculated that the development of this situation was related to the controversy caused by the Paris Olympics, and has begun to "guess" the successor.

The Associated Press reported on the 11th that Bach announced this major decision at an IOC meeting on the 10th, saying that hosting the Olympic Games requires "a change of leadership." In his "departure speech," he said that the International Olympic Committee is facing new challenges in the current context, and his successor needs to not only adapt to a "digital age," but also cope with a world of growing political pressure, while also establishing a strong relationship with emerging national forces. Bach said frankly: "At my age, I am no longer the best candidate for leadership. I know this decision has disappointed many of you." When he was emotional, he choked up for a while. It is reported that the IOC will elect a new president at the Athens Congress from March 18 to 21, 2025, and Bach will officially step down in June next year. He promised to ensure a "smooth transition" for the IOC.