Phnom Penh, Cambodia, October 4, 2022: The President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, praised the “remarkable energy, dynamism, resilience and can-do spirit” of Asia in staging three consecutive editions of the Olympic Games.
Addressing the 41st General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia via video message on Tuesday, October 4, Bach said Asia had created Olympic and sporting history.
“With the unprecedented Asian cycle of three consecutive editions of Olympic Games now behind us, the Olympic community in all of Asia can look back with great pride,” he told delegates at the General Assembly in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
“Starting with the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, to the postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, you can truly say Asia has written sporting history, Asia has written Olympic history.
“This is why, as you gather for your General Assembly, I would like to express my thanks and gratitude for your great contribution to the success of this remarkable Asian Olympic cycle.
“Each of these Olympic Games faced unprecedented challenges, political conflict and tensions, a global pandemic that is still ongoing as we speak. And yet each, in their own unique way, these three successive Olympic Games editions have shown the remarkable energy, the dynamism, the resilience and can-do spirit for which we admire Asia so much. Your athletes have led the way in showcasing this spirit with their unforgettable Olympic performances.”
The IOC President also spoke of the importance of sport in shaping society, especially in the post-pandemic world.
“No matter what obstacles we might face, we can only go faster, aim higher, become stronger if we stand together in solidarity.
“In these difficult times, with divisions and wars on the rise, we need this unifying power of sport to promote our Olympic values of peace and solidarity more than ever.
“Building on these past successes, you have every opportunity at your General Assembly to set the course for the future of sport in Asia with great confidence.
“Let us not forget that this is happening at a time when all of us in the Olympic community must prepare for the post-pandemic future.
“Together with all of you, the IOC is ready to shape this new post-pandemic world with our shared Olympic values.
“This is why our Olympic Agenda 2020 + 5 is focused on strengthening the role of sport as an important enabler for the UN sustainable development goals.
“With Olympism 365 we now have a framework in place to even strengthen partnerships with NOCs and social development institutions in areas such as education, gender equality, climate action and many more.
“In this way we are joining hands to strengthen the role of sport in society, allowing us to even better pursue our shared mission to put sport at the service of humankind.
“This is why I would like to thank all of you at OCA, under the great leadership of your Acting President, Raja Randhir Singh, for leading the way to promote sport in society throughout Asia.
“Our partnership is the perfect illustration of our new Olympic motto: ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together’.
“For this reason, I am extending the hand of the entire Olympic Movement to all of you at OCA to work together for a better world through sport.
“In this great Olympic spirit of solidarity, peace and optimism, I wish you fruitful discussions and a very successful General Assembly.”