Outgoing International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has called for unity and political neutrality to secure the future of the Olympic Movement as he prepares to step down from his role.
Speaking on Monday at the ancient site of Olympia in Greece, ahead of the IOC’s 144th Session and the election of a new president on Thursday, Bach emphasized the importance of coming together despite differences.
Quoting Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, Bach said, “The Olympic Games are always a pilgrimage to the past and an act of faith in the future. This is what we are about to do. Tomorrow, we will begin our pilgrimage to the past. Then, we will perform acts of faith in the brilliant future of the Olympic Movement.”
Looking forward, Bach highlighted two key priorities for his successor: keeping athletes at the heart of the Olympic Movement and preserving the unity of the Olympic family.
“Unity does not mean everyone must have the same opinion. It means all are committed to the same values,” he explained.
To foster this unity, Bach outlined two foundational principles:
Solidarity: “Every member—particularly every Olympic Committee—must be treated equally, must have access to the benefits of the Olympic Movement, and must have the chance to develop, to grow. We must close the gap between privileged and less-privileged Olympic Committees. Each must not only have a voice, but a vote.”
Political Neutrality: Bach cautioned against the dangers of geopolitical tensions infiltrating sports. “Emerging geopolitical blocs are trying to pull the Olympic Movement to their side,” he warned. “If the IOC takes a position in favor of one or the other, the Olympic Movement would be torn apart. It would not be a global movement anymore. It will just be an instrument, another tool for politics to divide this world even more.”
As the IOC prepares to elect its new leader, Bach’s message serves as a reminder of the core values that have guided the Olympics for over a century. His emphasis on unity and neutrality aims to ensure that sports remain a force for good in a rapidly changing world.
