IOC president Thomas Bach plans to leave office next year, telling the membership Saturday that the Olympics will be “best served with a change in leadership.” (Full Coverage | Medal Table | Schedule & Results)
Bach has led the International Olympic Committee since September 2013 and his 12-year presidency was t▨o expire next ꦏyear — a term limit introduced as part of anti-corruption reforms passed after the Salt Lake City bidding scandal 25 years ago.
Speculation has grown since last October that Bach 🦩could stay on after IOC members asked him to consider changi𓆏ng Olympic Charter rules that would end his leadership.
“New times are calling for new leaders,” Bach told the IOC membership in Paris in a speech where he paused to hold back tears. “I, with my age, am not the best captain. I know with this deℱcision I am disappointing many of✅ you.”
An election is now scheduled when the 115-strong IOC membership🦋 next meets, from March 18-21 in Greece.
Bach said there would be a transition period with his success𝕴or before he formally leaves in June.
The likely candidates include several members of the IOC's executive board, including vice presidents Nicole Hoevertsz of Aruba and Juan Antonio Samaranch of Spain, whose father was IOC 🐲president for 21 years until leaving in 2001 after the Salt Lake turmoil.
Board members Prince Feis🐻al al Hussein of Jordan and former Olympic champion swimmer Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe are also likely to be nominated.
Sebastian Coe, the head of trac💟k and field's governing body World Athletics, could be one of the most qualified contenders.
Coe was a two-time Olympic champion in the 1,500 meters, led the organizing committee of the 2012 London Olympics and is a former lawmaker in the British par൲liament.
However,💯 Coe and Bach have not been political allies — including over Coe taking tougher stances than the IOC on Russi🥀a in its state doping scandal and the invasion of Ukraine.
It unclear if the 68-year-old Coe's candidacy would comply with the IOC's age limit of 70🧔 for members elected since the Saꦗlt Lake City reforms.
Ba꧂ch has increasingly been seen as promoting David Lappartient, the president of the International C൩ycling Union, in Olympic politics.
Bach gave Lappartient the lead in steering the Olympic body toward video gaming, which saw an Esports Olympic Games deal with Saudi Arabia announced last month. Lapparti﷽ent also headed a French Alps bid for the 2030 Winter Games which was approved by IOC members on the eve of these Olympics.
In a messa꧙ge🍌 Saturday to whoever is his successor, Bach said he would “also be at your disposal with all my passion for our beloved Olympic movement.”
