Thomas Bach, the 70-year-old German President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has announced he will not seek re-election when his term expires in 2025. Bach, who has led the IOC since 2013, made the decision after ‘deep reflection and extensive discussions’ with his family. His announcement came during the IOC session in Paris, where he stated, ‘New times are calling for new leaders’.Bach’s decision adheres to the Olympic Charter, which limits the president’s term to a maximum of 12 years. Despite some IOC members previously suggesting amending the charter to allow Bach to serve a third term, he chose to uphold the existing rules to ‘protect the credibility’ of the Olympic movement.During his tenure, Bach introduced sweeping reforms to the Olympic programme, bidding process, and staging of the Games, aiming to reduce overall costs and make the event more attractive to potential host cities. He also noted that host cities for the Summer Olympics are known until 2036, with several countries interested in hosting the 2040 edition.The election for the new IOC President will take place at the 143rd session in Athens, Greece, from March 18 to 21, 2025. The successor will take office in June 2025. As of now, no candidates have publicly expressed interest in the position.Bach, a former Olympic fencing champion, became visibly emotional during his announcement. He expressed gratitude for the trust shown in him but emphasized the importance of respecting the Olympic Charter. ‘Until then, I will continue to put all my energy at the service of the Olympic movement,’ Bach added, receiving a standing ovation from IOC members after his announcement.
Key points
- Thomas Bach will not seek re-election as IOC President when his term ends in 2025.
- Bach’s decision respects the 12-year term limit set by the Olympic Charter.
- The new IOC President will be elected in March 2025 and take office in June 2025.
- Bach introduced significant reforms during his tenure, including changes to the Olympic programme and bidding process.
