Thomas Bach's term at the head of the IOC may be extended. Photo: Getty Images/INDRANIL MUKHERJEE
Members of the International Olympic Committee have proposed that Thomas Bach extend his presidential term beyond the 12-year limit, which could ruin Sebastian Coe's chances of succeeding him in 2025.
An intervention that has long been predicted in Olympic circles, the idea of extending Bach's controversial reign by changing the rules governing maximum terms of office was raised on Sunday at the 141st IOC session in Mumbai.
Bach, who was West Germany's fencing gold medalist at the 1976 Olympics, won admirers for his deft work managing multiple political factions behind the scenes but criticism for his handling of Russia.
Sochi hosted the Winter Olympics in 2014, a year after Bach became president, and then he did not support WADA's call for a complete ban of Russian athletes from the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro following revelations of state-sponsored doping.
The decision to allow 335 athletes to compete under the Russian Olympic Committee flag in Tokyo in 2021 has also been criticized, and there has been further controversy over the potential route given to Russian athletes to compete as neutrals in Paris next year following the invasion of Ukraine.
Coe, a two-time British Olympic 1500m champion and the current president of World Athletics, has notably left open the possibility of running in 2025, repeatedly answering the question this summer by saying he was currently undecided on the idea.
Rules governing the maximum 12-year sentence were agreed to as part of anti-corruption reforms adopted after the Salt Lake City bid scandal erupted in the 1990s, and although Bach responded Sunday expressing his loyalty to the Olympic Charter, this has also not been definitively established.
Algerian President Mustapha Berraf, president of the Association of African National Olympic Committees, cited recent global crises and said the IOC needed to “go through this period of agony with a president who has proven his strength.”
Luis Mejia Oviedo, IOC member from the Dominican Republic, then added, “We really need to be able to rely on the leadership you've shown.” There were also words of support from Aisha Garad Ali from Djibouti.
Gymnastics federation president Morinari Watanabe even expressed his “love” for Bach, although he did not seem to oppose the idea of bending the rules. “You advised us all that sports organizations should follow rules and have high integrity with good management,” Watanabe said. “I love you, Mr. President Thomas Bach, because I believe that you are the right person.”
Lord Coe (right), pictured here in 2015, is seen as a possible successor to Thomas Bach (left) as IOC President. Photo: Getty Images/Alexander Hassenstein
Bach thanked Watanabe for his “love” but referred him to comments from John Coates, the IOC vice-president and head of its Legal Commission, who told delegates that a written proposal to amend the statutes – and thus allow his colleague to continue beyond 2025 – was needed will be submitted 30 days before the “session”. The next such session will take place in July next year, on the eve of the Olympic Games in Paris. “First of all, thank you very much for your kind words of support, because I think that these words of support are not only addressed to me, they are addressed to all of us,” said Bach.
“ It is this unity, that support , which you expressed at that time on many issues in general, has forced us to overcome the difficulties that we have faced, and we can only be trustworthy if we appeal to all these divisive forces in the world, if we call for respect for unification sport, if we ourselves are united.
“Otherwise there will be no trust in us. If we are divided, how can we teach others about unity and our unifying power? You also know that I am very loyal to the Olympic Charter.
“Being the main author of this Olympic Charter makes me more loyal to this Olympic Charter. You have heard the explanations of the chairman of our Legal Commission on this matter.
“Thank you very much again, I am very touched by your support and friendship.”
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