The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially accepted the resignation of Thomas Bach as IOC member, effective June 23. On that day, the presidency will be transferred to the new IOC leader, who will be elected on March 20 in Costa Navarino, Greece.

Thomas Bach, who assumed the IOC presidency on September 10, 2013, announced during last year’s IOC Session in Paris that he would not seek an extension of his term, despite requests from several IOC members for him to continue. His resignation as an IOC member was submitted this week to the Executive Board, marking the end of a more than decade-long stint at the helm of the Olympic Movement.

Re-elected for a second four-year term in March 2021, Bach led the IOC at key moments, such as the organization of the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympic Games, facing challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. His tenure was characterized by the implementation of significant reforms, such as Olympic Agenda 2020 and its successor, Olympic Agenda 2020+5, which promoted sustainability, inclusiveness and modernization of the Olympic Movement.

THE FUTURE OF THE IOC AND THE NEW PRESIDENT

With the election of a new president scheduled for March 2025, the IOC is preparing for a new phase. Bach’s successor will inherit a strong legacy, but will also face challenges such as organizing the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games within a framework of sustainability reigning in global sport.

Bach’s resignation marks the end of an era, but also opens the door to new opportunities for the future of Olympic sport.