144^th IOC Session: "Values first" (Thomas Bach, at the opening ceremony in Greece)

"When we pay homage to Pierre de Coubertin, we do so with humility on the one hand and confidence on the other. In this way, let us strive to fulfil our role as guardians of his vision: Values first. This is exactly what this IOC Session is about. A sacred pilgrimage to our ancient past. A 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," said Thomas Bach, president of the IOC, on 18/03/2025.

The German, in office since 2013, thus opened the 144^th IOC Session organised at the International Olympic Academy, near the ancient site of Olympia in Greece. The main highlight of the event, which runs until Friday 21/03, is the election of the next president of the international body, scheduled for Thursday 20/03/2025.

In one of his last speeches as IOC president, Thomas Bach mentioned the word "values" 15 times and the word "peace" seven times. "The ancient Olympic Games were already built on values, as exemplified by the tradition of the Olympic Truce, the ekecheiria. This sacred truce allowed the…