Thomas Bach wants to face in the next year for re-election as President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). After eight years in office, he may extend the regulations to four more years. At the opening of the 136. Session, the first plenary meeting, which could only take place via a video conference, said Bach, is that several members have directed the corresponding petition to him. “If you, the IOC members want, I am ready,” said Bach.
It is assumed that he will not have to deal with a counter-candidate. In his opening speech, he had called the movement for unity and solidarity. Bach spoke of the “huge task” that lay before the IOC in the light of the Corona-crisis. In March, the organization had to move due to the pandemic, the summer Olympic games in Tokyo for a year.
criticism of the Boycott
Bach, in a time of pandemic, the risk of a new boycotts of the Olympic games warned. “We see a growing abuse of sport for political purposes. This danger is greater now,“ said the 66-Year-old in the General Assembly of the International Olympic Committee on Friday. The IOC observed that some Nations are driven in the course of the Corona-crisis “even more of selfishness and our own interests”.
Bach drew attention to the Boycott of the games in 1980 in Moscow by 42 countries as a reaction to the invasion of Soviet troops in Afghanistan. “Sports boycotts have absolutely no political effect,” said Bach.
