144th IOC Session opens in Ancient Olympia ahead of presidential election

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2025-03-19 10:03:00

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach speaks during the opening ceremony for the the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The 144th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially opened on Tuesday in Ancient Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games.

In light rain, the ceremony took place at the International Olympic Academy, adjacent to the ancient ruins where the Games began nearly 3,000 years ago. Following the opening ceremony, the main proceedings will take place from March 19 to 21 at Costa Navarino, a coastal resort in southwestern Greece.

IOC President Thomas Bach, who will step down in June after serving the maximum 12-year term, delivered a speech emphasizing the enduring values of the Olympic Movement.

"The Olympic Games and the values they represent have endured for millennia. These values unite us and remind us that we are part of something greater than ourselves. This is why we must always put values first. It is our duty to carry these values with humble dignity and pass them on to the next generations," Bach said.

He warned of the fragility of these values, recalling how the ancient Olympic Games disappeared for nearly 2,000 years when political and commercial interests overshadowed sport.

"It took almost 2,000 years before the Olympic Games could be revived by Pierre de Coubertin. When he did so 131 years ago, as a young man aged just 29 years, he envisioned a world where sport could drive positive changes," Bach remarked.

Describing this IOC Session as "a sacred pilgrimage to our ancient past, a homage to our modern origins, and a manifestation of our faith in the future when we will elect a new president," Bach reflected on the historical significance of gathering at Ancient Olympia for such an occasion.

One of the most anticipated events of this Session is the presidential election on March 20, where seven candidates are vying to become the 10th IOC president. The candidates include IOC Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., Zimbabwe's Olympic swimming champion and sports minister Kirsty Coventry, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) President David Lappartient, International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) President Johan Eliasch, IOC Executive Board Member Prince Feisal Al Hussein, and International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) President Morinari Watanabe.

The election will be conducted in multiple rounds, with the candidate receiving the fewest votes eliminated in each round until one secures an absolute majority. The winner will serve an eight-year term, with the next IOC presidential election scheduled for 2033.

Ancient Olympia, the site where the Olympic flame is traditionally lit, serves as a powerful symbol of continuity between the past, present, and future of the Olympic Games. The newly elected President of Greece, Konstantinos Tasoulas, attended the ceremony and suggested that all future IOC presidential elections could be held in Ancient Olympia, reinforcing the deep historical connection between Greece and the Olympic Movement.

Beyond the presidential election, this IOC Session will also review and reflect on the major reforms and milestones achieved during Bach's presidency.

The IOC Executive Board has proposed the inclusion of boxing in the sports program of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, following the IOC's provisional recognition of World Boxing (WB) in February. A final decision on the matter is expected to be made during this Session.

Additionally, the IOC will receive updates on the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics, and future Olympic Games. ■

European Olympic Committees President Spyros Capralos delivers a speech during the opening ceremony for the the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry (1st R) looks on during the opening ceremony for the the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Greece's President Constantine Tassoulas speaks during the opening ceremony for the the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Artists perform during the opening ceremony for the the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (R) and Greece's President Constantine Tassoulas leave after the opening ceremony for the the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Isidoros Kouvelos, president of Hellenic Olympic Committee speaks during the opening ceremony for the the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach (R) hugs with Spyros Kapralos, president of the European Olympic Committees, during the opening ceremony for the the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

IOC Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior arrives before the opening ceremony for the the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) David Lappartient arrives before the opening ceremony for the the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (C) shakes hands with Greece's President Constantine Tassoulas (L) during the opening ceremony for the the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach walks away after delivering a speech during the opening ceremony for the the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sebastian Coe (2nd R) arrives before the opening ceremony for the the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on March 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry (L) talks with candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior before the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach (R) talks with candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior before the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Prince Feisal Al-Hussein attends the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry is seen before the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry attends the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach speaks during the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sebastian Coe is seen before the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Johan Eliasch reacts during the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry reacts during a break of the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sebastian Coe reacts during a break of the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sebastian Coe reacts during the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Johan Eliasch answers questions during the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior answers questions during the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Prince Feisal Al-Hussein answers questions during the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Morinari Watanabe arrives before the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) David Lappartient answers questions during the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Morinari Watanabe (L) reacts during a break of the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) David Lappartient reacts during the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior looks on during the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Costa Navarino, Athens, Greece, March 19, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Can)