IOC President Thomas Bach says he will step down in 2025, not seek extension
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has announced that he will not seek to remain in charge for a third term after his present tenure ends in 2025.
The International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach bas informed that the next year’s Tokyo Olympics will have “reasonable number of spectators” inside the venues.
Bach, who is on his first visit to Japan since the Covid-19 pandemic broke and the Olympics were postponed, on Monday said Japan had shown that the Games were in safe hands.
He expressed his confidence on having crowds inside the stadiums at a time when it was speculated that the Olympics might be held behind closed doors.
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“We are looking for a reasonable number of spectators at the time of the Games”, tokyo2020.org quoted Bach as saying at a press conference following the first day of the Games’ Project Review.
“You can organise safe sports events. We have seen in the professional leagues, particularly in baseball, games already under the restrictions now with spectators that have been very successful. Of course everybody in the Olympic Games would like a full house, a full-capacity stadium. But the top priority of the IOC and of the organising committee has always been, and remains, to offer a safe environment – also for spectators,” he added.
Bach also informed that if vaccines become available before July 23 – the day Olympics begin next year – the IOC would ensure vaccination for everyone relating to the event.
Earlier in the day, Bach met with both Prime Minister SUGA Yoshihide and Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko, saying the IOC was “fully aligned” with them on how the Games should be run.
Prime Minister Suga assured Bach: “Our determination is to realise successful and secure Tokyo Games next summer as proof that humanity has defeated the virus.”
Bach added: “We share the great commitment of the Prime Minister that the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will happen next year. We are determined that safe Olympic Games will be a symbol of solidarity and unity.”
Before attending the Project Review at the headquarters of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, Bach was at the Japanese Olympic Museum, where he awarded the former Prime Minister, Abe Shinzo, the Olympic Order in Gold.
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