As your 12 year Presidency comes to an end, what achievement(s) are you particularly proud of and which is your best memory as IOC President?
The best memory for me was after the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024: these were the first Olympic Games to be fully planned and delivered in line with the reforms mapped out in Olympic Agenda 2020 and Olympic Agenda 2020+5. This was how we imagined them. They were more sustainable, more urban, younger, more joyful Games. For me, it closed the circle, as Olympic Agenda came fully to life, and it was the last edition of the Olympic Games under my presidency. It was a very emotional moment; a mix of pure joy and relief.
Our Olympic Agenda reforms were not just institutional changes. They were the strategic roadmap that helped us transform the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement to be more credible, more inclusive, more sustainable and more relevant in a rapidly changing world. They enabled us to strengthen the role of sport in society and to keep the Olympic values at the heart of everything we do.
I was President at a time when the Olympic Movement and the world faced many challenges — from doping, the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts and wars, to name just a few. We ensured that a whole generation of athletes did not get their Olympic dream destroyed by the pandemic. The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 had to be rescheduled, but we were able to make them happen, against a lot of resistance from many. They were safe for everyone. The Games became a signal of hope for the entire world. At the Olympic Games Paris 2024, athletes from the territories of all 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team competed fiercely against each other. At the same time, they lived peacefully together in the Olympic Village. Despite many
of their countries being at war, the athletes respected one another. The athletes showed us how our world could be—if we all lived in the Olympic spirit of peaceful coexistence. They created a culture of peace. The athletes embraced their role as ambassadors of peace. In Paris, they came together to issue a moving call for peace. This call included athletes from the NOCs of Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine, Yemen, and many others whose countries are currently divided by war and conflict. They reminded all of us that peace is not just an idealistic dream. Peace can be a lived reality when people come together in respect and solidarity. The Olympic Games Paris 2024 captured the hearts and minds around the globe: around 5 billion people followed them.
What is more, 78 per cent of global audiences believe the Olympic Games are more important than ever in a divided world, and 75 per cent believe the IOC is successful in “bringing the world together in peaceful competition” and in “building a better world through sport”.
Beyond the Olympic Games, the IOC’s broader impact and relevance was exemplified by the recent Olympism365 Summit, which showcased how our mission to build a better world through sport is brought to life year-round. The Summit gathered over 300 global participants and highlighted the IOC’s commitment to advancing peace, health, equality, and inclusion through sport-driven initiatives worldwide.
Above all, I am grateful that we have been able to preserve the unity of the Olympic Movement. In a world that is increasingly divided, sport has an ever more important role to play in bringing people together and building bridges. This unity is a testament to the enduring Olympic values and a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we stand together.
What most important advise are you giving your successor Kirsty Coventry in these challenging times?
She was elected because she has the professional and human qualities to be a very good IOC President and leader of the Olympic Movement. She is very much a values-based and values-oriented person, which is key. In this position, you can only maintain the credibility of your decisions and of the IOC if you have a clear compass of the Olympic values – which she has. We are now coming to the end of a very smooth and fruitful transition period during which we have already taken all the necessary decisions together. For all these reasons, I have every confidence that the future of our Olympic Movement is bright – and that it is in good hands. The IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry, represents a new generation of leadership. She embodies
our shared Olympic values. She reflects the truly global nature and the youthful, forward-looking spirit of our Olympic community.
What message would you like to share with the scholars involved in Olympic Education and Studies around the world?
Values are at the heart of the Olympic Movement. The idea that sport is universal and serves a higher purpose for all human beings was central to the thinking of Pierre de Coubertin. When he founded the International Olympic Committee 131 years ago, he saw it as a way to promote greater understanding among all nations and people of the world. He wanted to make the world a better place through sport and its values. This deeply humanist philosophy remains the overarching mission of the IOC and the entire Olympic Movement to this day. Especially in today’s complex world, the role of sport in society is evolving rapidly. This is why the work of Olympic scholars and educators is more important than ever. You provide the historical context
and the analytical perspective that allows the Olympic Movement to grow while staying true to its mission. Your research and teaching make a vital contribution to promoting the Olympic values and deepening our understanding of the role that sport can play in building a more inclusive, sustainable and peaceful world. For this, my heartfelt thanks and gratitude go to all the scholars and institutions of the Olympic Studies community around the world. Thank you for your important contributions in carrying the visionary ideas of Pierre de Coubertin into the future — and for your commitment to inspiring the young generation with our timeless Olympic values.
