Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2025

Daily Sabah - Latest & Breaking News from Turkey | Istanbul

  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Motorsports
  • Tennis

IOC boss Bach gazes at re-election amid charter amendment calls

by Agence France-Presse - AFP

MUMBAI, India Oct 15, 2023 - 11:26 am GMT+3
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach gestures as he speaks during a news conference, ahead of the 141st IOC Session, Mumbai, India, Oct. 13, 2023. (Reuters Photo)
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach gestures as he speaks during a news conference, ahead of the 141st IOC Session, Mumbai, India, Oct. 13, 2023. (Reuters Photo)
by Agence France-Presse - AFP Oct 15, 2023 11:26 am

Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee, has not ruled out the possibility of seeking re-election, as a number of members have urged for a change in rules that would allow him to extend his tenure.

The German was first elected for an eight-year term in 2013 and re-elected for a further four-year spell in 2021.

But allowing the 69-year-old former Olympic fencing champion to remain in the post beyond 2025 would require a change to the Olympic Charter.

Nevertheless, there were several calls for Bach to continue during Sunday's opening day of the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai.

Luis Mejia Oviedo, the president of the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee, hailed Bach's speech during Saturday's opening ceremony where he announced plans to look at creating an eSports Games.

Oviedo, lauding Bach's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, said the IOC needs to "rely on the leadership which you have shown."

Paraguay's Camilo Perez Lopez Moreira urged Bach to run for a further four years, saying the IOC needed his "peaceful leadership."

Djibouti's Aïcha Garad Ali added she was speaking "on behalf of Africa" in calling for a Charter amendment.

International Gymnastics Federation president Morinari Watanabe told Bach "I love you" as he professed admiration for his leadership.

The Japanese, however, repeatedly insisted the IOC "must be a role model" for international federations when it came to "good governance."

He also warned about the dangers of "corruption" and a "negative image" in what appeared to be a reference to Sepp Blatter having to resign as president of football's global governing body after being re-elected to a fifth term in the middle of the 2015 "Fifagate" scandal.

IOC vice-president John Coates of Australia said no alteration to the existing rules could take place in Mumbai because any proposal to amend the Charter must be submitted 30 days before a Session, and first requires consideration by the IOC's executive board.

Bach responded by saying he was "loyal to the Olympic Charter" but did not rule out agreeing to an amendment that would allow him to run again.

"Thank you very much for your kind words of support, because I think these words of support are not only directed to me, they are directed to all of us," he said.

Bach added the expressions of support for his leadership went "straight to my heart", saying, "I always appreciate this support, friendship and the love expressed by Mr Watanabe."

Nevertheless, he added, "Having said this, you also know I am very loyal to the Olympic Charter. Being a core author of this Olympic Charter drives me to be more loyal to this Olympic Charter.

"You have heard the explanation of the chair of our legal commission (Coates) in this direction."

  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Oct 15, 2023 1:38 pm
    KEYWORDS
    thomas bach 2024 paris olympics international olympic committee (ioc)
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    Sri Lankan protestors overrun presidential palace
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • DS TV
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021