The EOC warmly welcomes the re-election of Thomas Bach as President of the IOC and head of the Olympic Movement.

A visionary leader, in the wake of his motto “change or be changed” Bach has led the Olympic Movement through a period of profound renovation with Agenda 2020. And most recently has managed the crisis generated by the pandemic with wisdom and determination.

EOC Acting President Niels Nygaard said, “thanks to his courage and determination, and his profound commitment to Olympic values, Thomas has made the Olympic Movement a stronger and better place through which to promote Olympic values and ideals with greater force”.

Bach is also to be credited for having masterfully managed the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, an immense challenge that will go down in the history of the Olympic Movement as one of the most gigantic and complex.

On the subject, EOC Secretary General commented that “Bach has obtained an absolutely extraordinary achievement in managing to save the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which I am confident will be a great success both as a celebration of Olympic sport and as an example of what the Olympic Movement can achieve.

The NOCs of Europe congratulate Thomas Bach for his reelection and express the full support for the future and the growth of the Olympic Movement.