Olympic Review celebrates achievements of Thomas Bachs presidency

17 June 2025 – The latest edition of the Olympic Review has been published, marking a historic moment for the Olympic Movement as it reflects on more than a decade of reform and renewal brought about by the Olympic Agenda reforms under the leadership of President Thomas Bach. It also celebrates the election of Kirsty Coventry as the IOC’s 10th President – the first woman and the first African to hold the position.

Issue 124 of the Olympic Review, the official publication of the Olympic Movement, is a commemorative edition that captures the legacy of outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach and the transformative impact of the Olympic Agenda reforms.

In his final Foreword as IOC President, Bach reflects on the journey that began with Olympic Agenda 2020 and continued through Olympic Agenda 2020+5. “This edition offers a moment to look back on all that we have achieved together,” he writes. “From thoughtful reflections to personal tributes, this issue captures the essence of our collective efforts: staying true to our values, putting athletes first and opening our doors ever wider to the world.”

The cover story, “A Bright Future”, charts the journey of the Olympic Movement through a period of unprecedented global challenges – from the COVID-19 pandemic to geopolitical crises – and highlights how the Olympic Agenda reforms have strengthened athlete representation, sustainability, gender equality and youth engagement going forward.

The features in this edition include:

• A look back at Olympic Agenda: A review of the reforms that reshaped the Olympic Games, including the success of Paris 2024 – the first Games to fully embody the Olympic Agenda principles, by Steve Wilson.

   

• Sport, health and the power of partnership: An opinion piece by World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who reflects on how the Olympic Movement has helped create healthier futures through the benefits of physical activity.

   

• Athletes at the heart: A deep dive into how the IOC has empowered athletes through representation, safeguarding and career support, with testimonials from Olympians, by Guy Giles.

   

• The IOC Refugee Olympic Team: A celebration of the team’s journey from Rio 2016 to Paris 2024, where it won its first-ever Olympic medal, and the broader impact of the Olympic Refuge Foundation, by Nancy Gillen.

   

• Safeguarding in sport: A powerful feature on how the IOC has embedded safeguarding across the Olympic Movement, ensuring safer environments for athletes at all levels, by Michael Stoneman.

   

• Testimonials: Reflections from world leaders, athletes and partners on the legacy of President Bach and the impact of the Olympic Agenda reforms.

The Olympic Review also includes a pictorial retrospective of President Bach’s 12-year tenure, book reviews from the Olympic Studies Centre, and a tribute to Olympians and figures from the Movement who have passed away.

As the Olympic Movement looks ahead to Milano Cortina 2026 and beyond, this edition of Olympic Review is a testament to the power of unity in diversity and the enduring values of Olympism.

The Olympic Review is available in print and online.