Buenos Aires, Argentina – Within minutes of being elected to the top job in the Olympics, Thomas Bach got a phone call from a powerful leader he’ll work with closely in the next few months: Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Bach, a 59-year-old German lawyer, was elected Sept. 10 as president of the International Olympic Committee. He succeeds Jacques Rogge, who stepped down after 12 years.
One of the first congratulatory phone calls came from Putin, who will host the IOC in less than five months at the Winter Olympics in the southern Russian resort of Sochi.
The Sochi Games are one of Putin’s pet projects, with Russia’s prestige on the line.
“He congratulated and (said) there would be close cooperation to make the success of Sochi Games sure,” Bach said.
The buildup to the Feb. 7-23 games, however, has been overshadowed by concerns with cost overruns, human rights, a budget topping $50 billion, security threats and a Western backlash against a Russian law against gay “propaganda.”
Bach and the IOC have been told by the Russians there would be no discrimination against anyone in Sochi, and that Russia would abide by the Olympic Charter.
“We have the assurances of the highest authorities in Russia that we trust,” Bach said.
It remains unclear what would happen if athletes or spectators demonstrate against the anti-gay law. Rogge said this week that the IOC would soon send a reminder to athletes that, under the Olympic Charter, they are prohibited from making any political gestures.
“We will work on our project now and then it will be communicated to the NOCs (national Olympic committees) and then athletes,” Bach said. “It will be elaborated more in detail.”
Earlier, Bach said his first priority would be to celebrate, and his second to get ready for Sochi.
“We have to prepare well,” he said, “and I’m sure the games will be a great success.”
Bach was elected to an eight-year term. In 2021, he would be eligible to run for a second and final four-term term.
