International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach will step down as a member of the Olympic body after completing his 12-year tenure, the IOC announced on Wednesday.
Bach, a former Olympic fencing champion from Germany, will officially resign on June 23, following the election of his successor at the IOC session in Greece on March 20. While he could have remained an IOC member until the age of 80, the 71-year-old has chosen to step away after leading the organization since 2013.
The IOC Executive Board has formally accepted Bach’s resignation, marking the end of an era for the Olympic leadership.
Seven candidates are in the race to succeed him, including:
- Sebastian Coe (World Athletics President)
- Kirsty Coventry (Olympic swimming champion and Zimbabwe’s sports minister)
- Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. (Son of former IOC president)
- David Lappartient (International Cycling Union chief)
- Prince Feisal Al Hussein (Jordanian royal and IOC member)
- Morinari Watanabe (International Gymnastics Federation president)
- Johan Eliasch (International Ski Federation chief and businessman)
With Bach’s departure, the Olympic movement is set for a leadership transition that could shape the future of the Games for years to come.
