By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
International Olympic Committee President, Dr Thomas Bach, says he continues to support the hosting of an Olympic Games on the African continent in the near future.
Bach arrived in Johannesburg on Saturday for a short visit to South Africa, as part of his African tour. He travelled from Dakar, Senegal, where the next Youth Olympic Games will be held in 2026.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) hosted the fourth edition of the Athletes Indaba in Johannesburg on Saturday, Bach, and several other high-profile guests in attendance.
The Indaba covered a range of subjects, held at SASCOC headquarters, Olympic House.
Both the president of SASCOC, Barry Hendricks, and the CEO, Nozipho Jafta, acknowledged the presence of Dr Bach and his team.
The visit from the IOC president was called an “honour and a privilege”. Dr Bach engaged with the athletes, speaking to them and taking questions from the floor, answering them with passion and sincerity.
“I came from being an athlete. When I became IOC president I wanted to give athletes a voice and a vote and what has happened is heart-warming. The Games are athletes-centred Games, where they are organised around athletes. I wanted athletes to express themselves beyond the mere competition. We are all equal – the same rules apply to everyone. Athletes have the opportunity to live Olympic values and express themselves beyond mere competition,” Dr Bach told the SASCOC Athletes’ Commission.
Team SA returned from Paris 2024 with six Olympic medals and six Paralympic medals.