10 April 2025 – The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, today underscored the importance of the European Sports Model in his address to the EU Sports Forum 2025, which is being held in Krakow, Poland. Speaking via live video link, President Bach also reflected on the success of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and looked ahead to the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
With less than a year to go until the Games, the IOC President stressed that “This EU Sport Forum is a timely reminder of what unites us: our shared belief in the unifying power of sport. The Olympic ideal of developing sport to promote peace and understanding among nations is also intrinsically linked to the values at the heart of the European project.”
President Bach also thanked the European partners for their collaboration over the past decade. Following this, the European Commissioner for Sport, Glenn Micallef, shared his appreciation of the IOC President's leadership.
Thank you for your contribution to the sporting movement, for leading the sporting movement in difficult times – during your Presidency you had also very testing times with COVID – but you lead the sporting movement with integrity, based on values that we share.Glenn Micallef - European Commissioner for Sport
“It’s inspiring to listen to your words this morning, which continue to encourage us to use sport as a platform for positive change in our societies,” he added.
President Bach expressed confidence that their cooperation will continue with his successor, IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry, who will take office on Olympic Day, 23 June. President Bach highlighted her experience as a two-time Olympic champion, a longtime elected athlete representative, and a former sports minister, which he believes will ensure a seamless transition and continued strong partnership.
Commissioner Micallef also voiced his optimism for future collaboration: “I hope and I look forward to continue this work with your successor, with Mrs Coventry and with all our colleagues in this room.”
Support for the European Sports Model
During his keynote speech, the IOC President highlighted the strength of the European Sports Model, describing it as “grounded in solidarity, voluntary work, openness and the autonomy of sports organisations… It is more than a framework for sport: it is a blueprint for sport as a force for good in society.”
President Bach called for continued support from the EU and its Member States to collectively strengthen the model: “Sport can only make a positive impact if its autonomy and solidarity-based structure are respected and supported by public authorities," he emphasised.
President Bach also welcomed the EU's recognition of sport as a catalyst for improving lives and building resilient communities.
We are ready to play our part in this, as we are already successfully doing by strengthening the role of sport as an important enabler for the UN Sustainable Development Goals,
Thomas Bach - IOC President
The IOC President urged the EU to integrate sport into its strategies, supporting the call from Commissioner Micallef, for cross-sector cooperation and deeper inclusion of sport in EU policies. “We are ready to team up with you,” President Bach assured the Commission and all Member States.
Reflecting on Paris 2024
Looking back at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the IOC President celebrated the remarkable achievements of European athletes, who won a total of 448 medals. He noted that the Games were the most followed in history, with around 5 billion people following worldwide. "These Olympic Games captured hearts and minds around the globe," President Bach said.
He emphasised the Games' role in promoting peace and unity, as athletes from diverse backgrounds came together to compete and live peacefully in the Olympic Village.
The athletes showed us how our world would be, if we were all to live in this Olympic spirit of peaceful co-existence.
Thomas Bach - IOC President
Looking forward to Milano Cortina 2026
President Bach expressed excitement for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, which will once again bring the world's best athletes to Europe. He highlighted the opportunity to showcase the best of Italy and of Europe to the world, with its sporting traditions, commitment to sustainability, and the power of sport to unite people. Milano Cortina 2026 will benefit from the Olympic Agenda reforms, utilising existing world-class venues in iconic winter sports locations. "Together with our Italian partners and friends, we are looking forward to Olympic Winter Games that will pulsate with Italy’s passion for sport and highlight Italy’s unique culture and heritage," Bach conveyed.
Embracing artificial intelligence
In his address, the IOC President also stressed the role of embracing new opportunities, in particular artificial intelligence (AI), in the future of sports. "When it comes to AI, we can concentrate on supporting the human being. This is why our approach to AI is athlete-centred and human-centred," President Bach said. He called for global regulation to ensure that AI upholds human dignity, encourages technological innovation, and ensures equitable progress within and among societies. "We will live up to our vision of equality through solidarity by making the benefits of AI available to everyone in the Olympic Movement around the globe," the IOC President stated.
A call for unity and cooperation
The IOC President recalled the importance of protecting the neutrality of the Olympic Games.
We can only make the Olympic Games such a symbol of global unity and peace through a fundamental commitment to political neutrality and universality. In our world torn apart by so much hate, wars and division, the Olympic Games are the only event that still unites the entire world in peaceful competition.
Thomas Bach - IOC President
The IOC President concluded his speech with a call for unity and cooperation, emphasising the Olympic motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together. "It is only by joining hands that we can live our Olympic motto," he said.
Read President Bach’s full speech here
The EU Sports Forum is a two-day annual forum that brings together hundreds of high-level participants from EU Member States and sports organisations to discuss challenges, opportunities and the future of sport in the EU. This year’s edition is being held in Krakow, Poland, as the country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.
