Eight presidents since 1894.
Now it’s Thomas Bach’s turn. Last Tuesday, Bach of Germany was elected to lead the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as Jacques Rogge’s tenure came to an end.
In the July to September edition of the Olympic review, the outgoing president made the point that one of the great strengths of the Olympic movement is its ability to adapt to change while adhering to the traditions and core values that define the mission of the IOC.
Rogge was emphatic in making the point that no organisation can survive over time without accepting change.
He graciously acknowledged that a new IOC president will undoubtedly bring more change to the Olympic Movement, and went on to say that is how it should be.
In what would be his farewell foreword, Rogge was both optimistic and gracious in passing the baton of leadership.
Rogge ensured that the IOC led the fight against doping and illegal betting while under his stewardship and built upon the financial platform laid down by Juan Antonio Samaranch.
Since 1894, every IOC president played a part in shaping the Olympic Movement. Demetrius Vikelas of Greece was appointed the first IOC president by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Vikelas served as president from 1894 t0 1896. Pierre de Coubertin led the IOC from 1896 to 1925. Henri De Baillet-Latour, like Rogge a Belgian, helmed the IOC from 1925 to 1942.
At the first post war IOC meeting, J Sigrid Edstrom of Sweden was president from 1946 to 1952.
American Avery Brundage was elected in 1952 and during his 20 years in the post, he is best remembered for his inflexibility on amateurism.
Irishman Lord Killanin was thrown into the hot seat from 1972 to 1980. His tenure encompassed the boycotts of the 1976 and 1980 Games.
Then came the Samaranch era. Samaranch restructured the IOC finances, overseeing television rights deals and sponsorship programmes. He led the IOC through the Salt Lake ethics crisis and undertook major reforms to the structure of the IOC.
Rogge was considered to be the ideal president to guide the IOC through the post Samaranch years. The creation of the Youth Olympic Games is widely considered to be his signature achievement. Rogge’s era will also be remembered for the Beijing and London Summer Olympic Games and the memorable Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Rogge competed in sailing at the Olympic Games in Mexico in 1968, Munich in 1972 and Montreal in 1976. He was also a member of the Belgian national rugby team. The other Olympian in the gallery of presidents is Brundage.
Bach, however, is the first gold medalist to be elected president. Those who elected him would have high expectations that the wealth of his experience both as an athlete and sport administrator will provide him with the leadership qualities needed to guide the complex behemoth that is the Olympic movement.
The IOC and the global Olympic movement will face myriad challenges and from all corners. There are a number of issues that require attention. But the major challenge facing the Olympic Movement is a booming cynicism and pragmatism that is slowly draining away the passion and enthusiasm for the foundational philosophy of Olympism and the core Olympic values, ideals and spirit.
The corridors of power are allegedly covered in agendas that have very little to do with the vision and ambition of Baron Pierre de Coubertin and the fundamental principles of Olympism.
The IOC and the Olympic movement are for some mere means to an end. Bach’s most powerful challenge will be those who are only paying lip service to the Olympic values, spirit and ideals. His legacy may well be determined by his willingness and ability to stop the slow but gathering erosion of the Olympic values, ideals and spirit.