Lausanne: The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Executive Board has agreed to accept the resignation of IOC President Thomas Bach, as announced by the IOC’s press office in a statement on Wednesday.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the resignation of Bach will be effective after June 23, 2025, coinciding with the handover to the new IOC President, who is set to be elected on March 20, 2025, in Costa Navarino, Greece. Bach, an Olympic gold medalist, made his decision clear at the IOC Session in Paris, stating he would not seek an extension to his presidency despite urging from IOC Members.

Thomas Bach, 71, was first elected as the IOC president in 2013 at the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires, where he was appointed for an eight-year term. Bach, who clinched his Olympic gold in the team foil competition at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, pursued another term in 2021. Running as the sole candidate, he was re-elected for a four-year term.

The race to succeed Bach will see seven candidates competing at the IOC’s 144th session in Greece from March 18 to 21. The candidates include Sebastian Coe from Great Britain, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr from Spain, Morinari Watanabe from Japan, Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe, David Lappartient from France, Johan Eliasch from Great Britain, and Prince Faisal bin Hussein from Jordan.