Thomas Bach

Tokyo Olympics to go ahead despite outbreak threat

Bach told Japanese media in a conference call that the IOC “is fully committed to a successful Olympic Games in Tokyo, starting July 24”.

Asked whether there were alternatives to holding the Olympics as scheduled, as suggested in a recent interview with IOC member Dick Pound, Bach only said, “I'll not add fuel to the flames of speculation”.

PNG Olympic Haus open

The new office is at Lahara Avenue in Boroko, National Capital District, and was opened by the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, on May 9th.

Bach congratulated the PNG Olympic Community on this milestone achievement and also presented them with the certificate of recognition as a National Olympic Committee.

He said the Olympic Haus can be the home of Olympics and Olympism in PNG.

IOC President impressed with PNG

Bach said his high expectations of PNG as an Olympic country has risen further with what he has seen and been led to through his meetings and interactions during his stay.

PNG has always been of interest to Bach through his association with PNG Olympic Committee President, Sir John Dawanincura, and especially Secretary General, Auvita Rapilla, who is a Member of the IOC.

PNG commended for living Olympic values

Thomas Bach made this statement soon after his arrival in Port Moresby.

President Bach arrived late in the afternoon of May 8th at the Jackson’s International Airport VIP Terminal.

There he was met by a delegation comprising of Vice Sports Minister Wesley Raminai, PNG Sports Foundation CEO, Peter Tsiamalili Jnr, PNG Olympic Committee president Sir John Dawanincura and his general-secretary, Auvita Rapilla.

At his welcome reception at APEC Haus, Bach commended PNG for practicing the Olympic values of friendship, equality and respect, among others.  

IOC president to visit POM

He will participate in various events including a meeting with the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister and Minister for Sport, Peter O’Neill.

This meeting will cover a range of topics including government support for sports. Both leaders will then witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the PNG Olympic Committee and the PNG Sports Foundation.

IOC staunchly defends Russian presence in Rio

The IOC opted not to ban all Russian athletes from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after revelations of a wide state-backed doping program across many sports.

Instead it chose a set of criteria for athletes to meet, including a clean doping past and sufficient testing at international events that so far has allowed more than 250 out of the original 387 Russian athletes to be cleared for Rio.

Coates would be "very surprised" if IOC opts to overturn ban on Russia

Coates, seen as a close ally of IOC President Thomas Bach, said he would be "very, very surprised" if the IOC overturned the decision of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

"It's an International Federation's right to suspend a National Federation and I don't think we would overturn that at all," he said.

The Australian, who has described the Russian testing system as "rotten to the core", also welcomed similar investigations now taking place within other sports.

IOC President Bach leads tributes to Muhammad Ali

The three-time world heavyweight champion, widely regarded as one of the greatest sportsmen of all-time, died late yesterday at a hospital in the American city of Phoenix after being admitted on Thursday (June 2).

He was suffering from respiratory issues with reports suggesting his breathing problems had been complicated by Parkinson’s disease, which he had suffered from since 1984 - three years after retiring from boxing.

Ali had a strong affinity with the Olympics, shooting to fame by winning the light heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Games in Rome.

Costs rise at International Olympic Committee

The IOC’s 2014 financial statements, made public during the recent Session in Kuala Lumpur, show a year-on-year increase of 23.8 per cent in these costs during what was a particularly busy period for the Olympic Movement, from US$153.5 million (£98.4 million/€138.6 million) in 2013 to US$190.1 million (£121.8 million/€171.7 million) last year.

The rise is partly explained by sharp increases in smaller items, for example, a doubling in depreciation and amortisation and a four-fold increase in taxes.

IOC moving in the right direction: President Bach

Speaking at the opening of the 128th Session of the IOC Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, President Bach said approval of the Olympic Agenda 2020 last December are already revealing positive signs fo the Olympic Movement.