Reference News Network June 24 report, according to the website of Russian newspaper "Kommersant" on June 22, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) released its annual report, which is also the final summary during the tenure of President Thomas Bach. Bach, who has served as IOC president for 12 years, will transfer his authority to Kirsty Coventry on the 23rd.

The report mentioned that Bach's salary last year was very modest, only 350,000 US dollars. In contrast, the income of FIFA president Gianni Infantino reached 5.2 million US dollars last year, and the owners of major American professional leagues are even more so. For example, the annual income of the head of the National Football League in the United States exceeds 60 million US dollars.

Another report from the website of Russian newspaper "Kommersant" on June 22 stated that Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko of Russia said that Russian athletes have obtained the qualification to participate in 31 sports events.

He also mentioned that Coventry will officially take office as the president of the IOC on June 23, and whether the international sports federations allow Russian athletes to compete will depend on Coventry's will.

Another report from AFP on June 22 stated that on the 23rd, Thomas Bach's 12-year term as president of the IOC will come to an end. At that time, he will pass the baton to Kirsty Coventry - the first woman and African to hold the highest political position in the world of sports.

Bach, 71, is a German lawyer and a team fencer champion at the 1976 Olympics. During his tenure, he faced many challenges. The AFP sports department listed three major challenges:

● Solving the problem of Russian athletes' participation

When Bach was elected in 2013, Russian President Putin was the first person to call and congratulate him - at that time, Bach had not yet realized that Russia would become a thorny problem during his term.

In 2014, a scandal broke out at the Sochi Winter Olympics involving state-supported doping, and Russia violated the Olympic Truce Agreement twice in 2014 and 2022, which continuously tested Bach and the IOC's patience.

Before the Paris Olympics in 2024, Bach faced pressure from all sides. Although Russia had already been at war with Ukraine, he eventually allowed Russian athletes to participate, provided they underwent strict review and competed as neutrals.

IOC member and former British sports minister Hugh Robertson told AFP: "His balance on the issue of Russian athletes participating in the Paris Olympics conforms to the Olympic Charter. He took a firm stance against the Russian government, banning any events from being held in Russia, prohibiting participation under the national flag, and prohibiting the appearance of national symbols."

● Withstanding the pressure to cancel the Olympics in Japan

Michael Payne, former marketing director of the IOC, said that Bach's presidency was extremely difficult, with no respite. However, he always remained calm.

The most representative example was when there were calls in Japan to cancel the Tokyo Olympics due to the pandemic rather than just postponing it to 2021, Bach withstood the pressure.

Payne said that Bach had a deep memory of the painful experience of 1980 when countries boycotted the Moscow Olympics due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and he himself missed the Moscow Olympics. This German once said that the IOC would never stop the games.

Ultimately, the Tokyo Olympics were held, but due to local organizers prohibiting spectators, most athletes competed on empty stadiums.

Former IOC marketing executive Terence Burns called it Bach's masterpiece. He said: "To be honest, I think it was his determination that made the Olympics possible when the whole world doubted this decision. If it weren't for Bach steering the ship, there might not have been the Tokyo Olympics."

● Leaving a solid financial foundation

As Bach steps down, the financial situation of the IOC is very stable. He once proudly said that during his 12 years in office, "income increased by 60%".

Robertson praised Bach for leaving an IOC with a "very solid financial situation" to Coventry.

He also said that the policy of locking in long-term contracts with sponsors "provided financial certainty for the IOC during an extremely difficult period, and we are now witnessing its dividends."

Burns said: "In any standard, Bach filled the IOC's coffers. Ultimately, this is what really matters." (Translated by Tong Shiqun, Tu Qi)

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