IOC President Thomas Bach shared a special afternoon with young people in Africa, participating in a #GameConnect program session filled with enthusiasm and camaraderie. The youth showcased the invaluable life skills they have developed through this program, which promotes teamwork, collaboration, and effective conflict resolution. Bach observed firsthand how sports have equipped them with tools to face challenges in their daily lives, helping them grow as individuals and engaged citizens.

During his visit, Bach also joined a football training session at a local school, sharing smiles and advice with the young players. This experience reinforced his belief in the transformative power of sports to unite people of all ages and backgrounds, inspiring values of respect, discipline, and unity.

HIS JOURNEY THROUGH AFRICA

After his stay in South Africa, Bach headed to Uganda, where he was welcomed by the President of the National Olympic Committee, Donald Rukare, and IOC Member William Blick. Joined by Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei and other notable athletes, Bach visited the Uganda Wildlife Authority Center, where he planted a tree as a symbol of his commitment to the environment, part of the global Olympic Forest Network. He also participated in a Q&A session with Ugandan athletes, who expressed their gratitude for the IOC’s support.

In Uganda, Bach also held meetings with Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, and together, they visited a Game Connect project in Kampala. This initiative by the Olympic Refuge Foundation seeks to improve the mental well-being of refugees through sports. Bach praised the program’s positive impact on young refugees’ psychological health, highlighting the importance of sports initiatives for social inclusion and personal development.

TO LESOTHO

The next stop on Bach’s tour was Lesotho, where he was received in the capital, Maseru, by IOC Member Matlohang Moiloa-Ramoqopo and the President of the National Olympic Committee, Tlali Rampooana. During his visit, Bach met with the acting Prime Minister, discussing the role of sports in the country’s health and education. He later visited a school and attended a cultural event, demonstrating his support for the development of sports.

In Lesotho, he also met with the country’s Olympic athletes and praised their outstanding performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, including a remarkable seventh-place finish in the men’s marathon. At a gala celebration, Bach reaffirmed his admiration for the sporting spirit of Lesotho and commended the National Olympic Committee’s support for developing its athletes.

OLYMPIC VALUES

Through this tour, Bach has reaffirmed the IOC’s commitment to the African continent and his desire to strengthen Olympic values across all nations. As he approaches the end of his term in 2025, the IOC President expressed his confidence in Africa’s role within the Olympic movement and reiterated the IOC’s support for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which he views as a pivotal event for the growth of sports in the region

This afternoon, the @iocmedia President participated in a #GameConnect session, where youth showcased the invaluable life skills they’ve acquired through the program, including:

•⁠ ⁠Teamwork and collaboration
•⁠ ⁠Effective conflict resolution pic.twitter.com/j6DEozo3IF

— NOC UGANDA | CGA UGANDA (@Official_UOC) October 23, 2024

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