(ATR) IOC President Thomas Bach invokes the spirit of the founder of the IOC in his report to the membership.
Delivering the President’s report on day two of the IOC Session in Lausanne, Bach attempted to squarely set the work of the founder of the modern Olympics to the IOC’s work in 2019, 125 years after he founded the IOC.
"If Coubertin would be with us today, at our 134th IOC Session in his beloved Lausanne, what would he think of the state of the Olympic Movement," Bach posed to the IOC membership.
"Perhaps he would be struck by the great stability the Olympic Movement enjoys today in our fragile world," Bach said.
Elected in 2013, Bach is the ninth president of the IOC since 1894. Demetrius Vikelas of Greece was first, followed by de Coubertin, who served from 1896 to 1925.
"In his time, it would have been unthinkable to have Olympic hosts confirmed eleven years in advance of the Games. Back then, it would have been inconceivable to have interest to host Olympic Games even seventeen years in advance, as we currently do with 2032 and even 2036," said Bach.
The long-term interest from potential bids and marketing agreements worth billions lasting until the 2030s might even make de Coubertin "a little bit envious," claimed the IOC chief.
But Bach also acknowledged the organization has had its challenges.
"Over the course of 125 years of our existence, there have been moments when we have fallen short of our ideals and values. But as we are in sport, that only encourages us to strive even harder."
Bach warned National Olympic Committees, International Federations and governments to not fall into the trap of making sport purely for profit. He said the values-based IOC should take priority.
Still, Bach found plenty for de Coubertin to admire in today’s IOC.
"If he is watching us, I believe that he would feel very proud that the Olympic Games today are the only event that brings the entire world together in solidarity and peaceful competition."
Written by Ed Hula
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