Bach Replaces Rogge As IOC President
The International Olympic Committee has elected Thomas Bach as its new president, replacing Jacques Rogge, who is standing down after 12 years in charge.
The 59-year-old lawyer replaces the outgoing 71-year-old in a new eight-year term, with the possibility of a further four-year, mandate.
The former fencing gold medallist was the favourite of the six candidates considered for the post in Buenos Aires.
Bach becomes the ninth president in the IOC’s 119-year history and beat competition from Singapore’s Ng Ser Miang, Wu Ching Kuo of Taiwan, Richard Carrion of Puerto Rico, Ukrainian athletics legend Sergey Bubka and Swiss Denis Oswald.
Bach said: ‘I’d like to thank all my dear friends and colleagues who voted for me. This is an overwhelming sign of trust and confidence.’
‘I know of the great responsibility of being IOC president. This makes me humble. I want to lead according to my motto: ‘unity in diversity’. This means I will do my very best to balance all the different interests of stakeholders of the Olympic movement.’
Bach gained 49 votes ahead of Carrion (29), Ng (6), Oswald (5) and Bubka (4).
Bach said before the election that his first priority – if elected – would be to ensure the smooth delivery of the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, which have been subject to delays, budget overruns and concerns over the warm weather.
