A fitting tribute. IOC President Thomas Bach will make the long journey from Switzerland to Australia at the end of the week to witness the final hours of John Coates’ leadership of the Australian Olympic movement. He will be the guest of honour at the General Assembly of the National Olympic Committee (AOC) on Saturday 30 April, during which John Coates will hand in his hat as President after more than 30 years in power. Thomas Bach will be present at the dinner given in honour of John Coates on Saturday evening in Sydney. The 71-year-old Australian leader is stepping down as president of the AOC, but will retain his other roles in the sporting movement, including IOC membership and a seat on the Brisbane 2032 Games board. Two men are in the running to succeed him as AOC president: Ian Chesterman, Australia’s chef de mission for the last six Olympic Games, who is already vice-president of the body, and former swimmer Mark Stockwell, a three-time medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
