Buenos Aires, Argentina – It was straight back to IOC business for Thomas Bach Tuesday afternoon following his resounding second round Presidential election that saw him beat five other hopefuls. But earlier, while receiving congratulations and making his way through a media scrum he took his first call.
It was Russian President Vladimir Putin wishing to congratulate his win, even while in the midst of brokering an intense chemical weapons deal with Syria. Russia is currently planning the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.
Before long Bach received another message. This time it was German Chancellor Angela Merkel who said she was thrilled that Germany would be represented “in an outstanding way.”
But his first congratulations came from Germany’s Head of State Federal President Joachim Gauck; Bach said he was contacted almost immediately after the vote.
The power wielded by the new IOC President during his next eight, and possibly 12 years, is formidable – and saying he is the most powerful person in International sport is an understatement.
His election rivals were quick to accept this realization.
Denis Oswald, who last week blasted Bach on Swiss radio for having connections in Kuwait to support his campaign said “It was a very interesting experience. I am obviously prepared to work further with the IOC and support our new president.”
He had told RTS he was “certainly not in favor of Thomas Bach. The values are not the same.”
Richard Carrion, who came second in the election said “I was told once that there is no silver medal in this competition, and we have learned that today … but now we are all united as one.”
CK Wu said “I think our new president – you won in a very honorable way and you have the full support from the IOC. The campaign is three months but our friendship is forever.”
“Any time you need me I will do my best to support your future work.”
Outgoing IOC President, in his closing speech said “we are blessed in having a new extremely capable President.”
“I urge all of you to unite around our new leader as you have done with me – I thank you.”
Bach told reporters “The announcement was really extremely emotional, to feel the reaction in this room was something I’ll never forget…it went straight to my heart.”
But Bach went right to business as he discussed his priorities at the start of his presidency.
“I’m sure when I go back to Lausanne next Tuesday, when President Rogge is handing over to me the files, the top file will be Sochi,” he said.
He also discussed his first official trip, to Olympia to see the lighting of the Sochi 2014 torch.
When questioned about his relationship with Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah from Kuwait, he sidestepped any indication of wrongdoing. He explained “you cannot win the election for IOC president with the support of one person alone, you know the IOC members, they are very strong individual personalities and you have to convince them individually,”
The Sheikh, as he is referred to in IOC circles, is said to control many votes and is accused of engineering Bach’s victory.
Bach emphasized that he made no promises to IOC members saying that it would not be fair or transparent unless there were open discussions, and this allows him to start day one with a blank sheet of paper.
He also vowed to enforce the Olympic Charter and recognize, while sport cannot be a platform for politics, the IOC cannot be apolitical.
“We have to realize that our decisions at events like Olympics Games, they have political implications.”
Former President Rogge was under fire for not reacting more firmly to the Russian “gay propaganda” law with respect to athletes attending the Sochi 2014 Olympics. The law violates the Olympic Charter’s promise regarding equality.
The seat of power remains in Europe, in fact eight of nine IOC Presidents have been based in Europe – America’s Avery Brundage being the lone exception. But the nationality of the President might cause changes immediately. Munich is planning a 2022 Olympic Games bid; referendums are already set for November 10 and the application is due November 14.
Now that the members have awarded Germany with a President, they may be less likely to award the nation with a Winter Games within a short time. Or, might Bach be able to leverage his position to win a Munich Games as a “gift”, just as Juan Antonio Samaranch won an Olympic Games for Barcelona in 1992?
