Bach On Track for Second Term

(ATR) IOC President Thomas Bach appears to have a clear track to win reelection for a final four year term. Any challenges from other candidates are due at IOC headquarters in Lausanne by the close of business November 30. None are expected.

Bach, 66, was elected in 2013 to an eight year term. Under the Olympic Charter, presidential terms are now limited to 12 years.

The election is scheduled for the IOC Session March 10 to 12 , Athens the planned location. The meeting will be the first in person gathering of the IOC since the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games in January.

The session that was to be held on the eve of the now postponed Tokyo Olympics last July took place in a virtual format in response to the coronavirus travel restrictions.

Bach made his formal declaration for a final four year term at that meeting on July 17.

If reelected, Bach will serve until 2025. The final four year term will begin at the close of the Tokyo Olympics next August.

While he won’t face challengers to remain in office, the list of possible contenders to succeed him in 2025 contains a few names already.

The list includes: Pierre Beckers of Belgium, head of the Paris 2024 IOC commission; Juan Antonio Samaranch of Spain, whose father was president from 1981 to 2001; Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, former chair of the IOC athletes commission; Nicole Hoevertsz from Aruba, a member of the IOC Executive Board; Mikaela Jaworski of the Philippines; Sergey Bubka from Ukraine; Ser Miang Ng of Singapore.

The election for IOC President is the only one scheduled for the session in Athens. Elections to the Executive Board will be held a few months later when the IOC holds a second session in 2021 on the eve of the Tokyo Olympics in July.

Reported by Ed Hula.