Thomas Bach’s remarkable 12-year tenure as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) concludes this Monday, as he passes leadership to Kirsty Coventry—the first woman and first African to hold the world’s most influential role in sport.
The 71-year-old German, an Olympic fencing champion in 1976, turned lawyer, has presided over one of the most challenging eras in Olympic history.
News Central highlights three defining issues Bach faced during his presidency:
Russia: The Unyielding Challenge
From the very beginning, Vladimir Putin’s Russia cast a long shadow over Bach’s time in charge. Putin was the first to congratulate Bach in 2013, yet the subsequent doping scandal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and Russia’s violation of the Olympic Truce in 2014 and 2022 severely tested the IOC’s resolve.
Bach’s decision to allow vetted Russian athletes to compete under a neutral flag at the 2024 Paris Games drew mixed reactions. Former IOC marketing chief Michael Payne called Russia the “large elephant in the room” and acknowledged Bach’s “no-win situation.” Other observers noted that Bach was among many leaders misled by Putin, suggesting a tougher stance on doping might have been warranted.
Credit: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images
Nonetheless, British IOC member Hugh Robertson praised Bach’s handling of Russia’s participation in Paris as balanced and aligned with the Olympic Charter, noting the strict bans imposed on Russian national representation and events.
Standing Firm on Tokyo and COVID
Bach faced enormous pressure when the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Despite calls to cancel, he stood firm on postponement, drawing from his own painful experience of missing the 1980 Moscow Games due to a boycott.
“The IOC would not pull the plug,” said Payne, warning of the catastrophic impact a cancellation would have had on the Olympic movement, potentially jeopardising Beijing 2022 as well.
Ultimately, the games went ahead without spectators, a move met with global doubt. Terrence Burns, a former IOC executive, lauded Bach’s “sheer willpower” in making Tokyo happen despite immense resistance. British Olympic Association chairman at the time, Hugh Robertson, echoed this sentiment, crediting Bach with preserving an Olympic opportunity for an entire generation of athletes.
Financial Strength and Stability
Bach departs with the IOC’s finances thriving, boasting a 60% revenue increase during his tenure. While growth has attracted more demanding partners, the long-term sponsorship deals secured under Bach’s leadership have provided financial certainty during global challenges.
Robertson commended Bach for handing over a “robust financial position” to his successor, while Burns encapsulated the legacy in a phrase borrowed from Ronald Reagan: “By any measure, Bach enriched the IOC coffers.” In the end, that is all that matters.”
