A page will turn on June 23. After twelve years at the head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach will officially hand over the baton to his successor, elected on March 20. The former foil fencer will also give up his seat as a member of the body, which he has held since 1991. “The first four weeks, I think I will sleep, he confides, not without a hint of humor, to AP agency. Then I will make a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, all alone, and I hope that this will inspire me for my future." In the final stretch of his mandate, the German leader believes he will leave the IOC on the right track.
Guaranteed income, restored credibility
In a difficult economic context, the IOC, for its part, is not experiencing the crisis. Its revenues, which are based on the TOP program and broadcasting rights, have increased from 5,2 billion dollars over the 2013-2016 cycle to 6,9 billion for 2017-2021 and 7,7 billion for 2021-2024. Contracts worth 7,4 billion dollars are already secured for the 2025-2028 Olympiad, and 6,5 billion for 2029-2032. Faced with the withdrawal of the Japanese giants, the IOC has been able to bounce back by attracting China, like the deal announced last month with TCL. "China is becoming an increasingly important partner in the TOP program, emphasizes Thomas Bach. This reflects the development of the global economy. We see China emerging and becoming increasingly important in the global economy, with a particular focus on technology and green technology. This is reflected in our new TOP partnership with TCL, our long-term partnership with Alibaba and the partnership with Mengniu.”
The IOC boss thus recalls that the Olympic Games remain attractive. Which Paris 2024 has confirmed, well beyond all expectations. "What we saw in Paris was a huge success. Comcast's numbers have reached new heights", notes the German, insisting on the integration of new models to enhance the Olympic product. The Comcast group includes NBC Sports, which sold $1,43 billion worth of advertising during the Games, and the Peacock streaming platform, which recorded almost 3 million additional subscribers. "The numbers speak for themselves", Bach repeats, to make it clear that the IOC has been able to adapt to changes in the media world and in the ways in which sports are consumed. He is also pleased to see that the allegations of corruption in the designation of host cities for the Olympic Games have dissipated with the new allocation procedure. "The atmosphere was just not healthy. It called into question the entire credibility of the IOC", regrets Bach while accusations have tarnished London 2012, Rio 2016 and even Tokyo 2020.
A “disinformation campaign” around Imane Khelif
“In great shape and very happy” in his words, he is enjoying living now "the first period of (his) presidency" where there is "no existential problem regarding the Olympics or the Olympic movement on (his) desk". The turbulence continues despite everything. Particularly from the IBA, which directly criticizes him for the decision to have authorized the boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting to participate in the Paris 2024 Games. The IOC president, however, remains firm in his position. “These two boxers were born as women, they were raised as women, they competed as women and no one has ever claimed that they were transgender, he explains to AP. What happened was a disinformation campaign by Russia that then distorted the truth, the facts, and now we find ourselves in this unfortunate situation where these two athletes are considered transgender. But they are not." US President Donald Trump also attacked the two boxers and threatened toban transgender athletes from entering the US for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. However, Thomas Bach wants to believe that all qualified athletes will be able to compete in three years. The Americans "will want to welcome athletes from all over the world", he slips. “The Games are more than just sport, recalls the leader. Our values are very clear and the Olympic Games are based on them." To the best of my mind.
