IOC Session Opens at Ancient Grounds
By Ed Hula
Invoking the gods of ancient Greece and the spirit of Pierre de Coubertin, IOC President Thomas Bach opened an IOC Session that will set the course of the Olympics for years to come.
“Pierre de Coubertin once said: “The Olympic Games are a pilgrimage to the past and an act of faith in the future.”
“This is exactly what this IOC Session is about. A sacred pilgrimage to our ancient past. An homage to our modern origins and to our founder. And a manifestation of our faith in the future, when we will elect a new President.
“I am sure that – from their Olympic heights – the ancient Greek gods and Pierre de Coubertin are following us very closely. They will be pleased to see that we have returned to our Greek roots at this important point in our history. Here – even if for only a fleeting moment – our past, our present and our future are aligning like stars in a constellation,” said Bach to the nearly 100 fellow IOC members in Ancient Olympia to mark the open of the 144th IOC Session. On Thursday the members will elect a new president from a group of seven candidates.
The gathering in Olympia Tuesday was symbolic. While an exact figure is not available yet, the number of IOC members in Olympia is believed to be the largest ever for a single event. The rest of the IOC session takes place 90km south along the Ionian seacoast at the Romanos Resort. It’s the closest property to Olympia with sufficient room and meeting space to hold a 21st century session drawing 500+ persons.
Plans for an IOC session in Greece have been underway for some time. First set for 2001, the covid pandemic forced the IOC to meet virtually instead, shifting the Greece session to 2025.
The simple ceremony under a marquee overlooking the first Olympic stadium featured traditional and modern dance performances, capped with the now classic Zorba the Greek music.
Ignoring the unwelcoming windy and rainy weather, Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas welcomed the IOC to come back to Greece on a regular basis. In his speech at the ceremony Tasoulas called for the IOC to always hold its presidential election in Olympia. While the sentiment may be appealing, the infrastructure of Olympia cannot handle the crush of an IOC meeting. Even the resort where this week’s session will be held has limitations. No comment yet from IOC meeting planners.
The IOC Session continues Wednesday at 0900 EET.
Written by Ed Hula
With contributions from Coasta Navarino by Mara Xenou and Brian Pinelli
Editing by Sheila S. Hula