The curtain drawer for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games has also seen it draw a close on the tenureship of Thomas Bach as President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Bach recently announced that after over 10 years as IOC President he intends to step down from his position after the end of his second term next year.
He told an Olympic members session over the past weekend that after being asked to stay on, he believes that the IOC would be best served under a new President to continue to move with the new times.
He said: “After 12 years in the office of IOC president our organisation is best served with a change in leadership. New times are calling for new leaders.”
Bach has since called on the Executive Board to call for an election for March 2025 with a mandate for the new President for 24 June 2025. The next IOC session is expected to be held in Athens from 18-21 March 2025.
The outgoing President stated this is to “ensure a smooth transition, to hand over the steering wheel of our ship to my best possible successor”.
Elected IOC President in 2013, Bach has overseen three Olympic Games with the 2020 event proving to be one of the most testing under his tenureship, having to move the Tokyo Games a year later in 2021 due to the effects of COVID-19.
An Olympic athlete himself, Bach won a foil team fencing gold medal at the 1976 Games in Montreal for his native West Germany before pursuing a career as a lawyer.
Bach’s 12-year tenure follows the IOC’s Presidential mandate and if he were to be interested in remaining in his position for another term, it would have meant a change in the Olympic charter.
As far as early contenders to replace Bach, Lord Sebastian Coe has admitted his interest in succeeding. It is understood that HRH Prince Feisal of Jordan, an IOC Executive Board Member, will also be a candidate.
He said: “I have always made it clear that if the opportunity arose, then I will give it serious thought. The opportunity has arisen and clearly I need to think about it. Of course I am going to consider it.”
The World Athletics President will need to formally announce his interest in running for IOC President three months before the election.
