Igniting the Games: The Evolution of the Olympics and Thomas Bach's Legacy

Thomas Bach, a German lawyer, was unable to defend his fencing title at the 1980 Moscow Olympics due to the US boycott. He devoted the next 20 years to climbing the sports administrative ladder and was elected IOC president in 2013. Bach's 40-point agenda transformed the organization's century-old constitution, launched a radical host city election procedure, and introduced new Olympic sports. Despite Russia's institutional cheating, Rio's near financial collapse, and the threatened cancellation of Tokyo 2020, Bach sustained IOC equilibrium through repeated crises.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 11 July 2022
Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd

The United States' boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics forced German lawyer Thomas Bach to relinquish his fencing title. Instead, he dedicated the next two decades to ascending the sports administrative hierarchy. His unwavering mission was to safeguard the independent rights of athletes, and his ultimate aspiration was to assume the position of IOC president. In 2013, Bach's remarkable journey culminated in his election as the IOC president, whereupon he initiated a transformative agenda. His 40-point plan introduced a groundbreaking host city election procedure while upholding the internal regulations of the International Federations and introducing innovative Olympic sports like skateboarding. The dawn of a new era of the Olympics had arrived, yet it was not without its challenges. The spectre of Russia's institutional cheating cast a dark shadow over three consecutive Games, while Rio 16 faced near financial collapse and the threat of cancellation loomed over Tokyo 2020. Yet, Bach remained steadfast in his commitment to maintaining IOC equilibrium amidst repeated crises. In his book, Igniting the Games, Bach showcases his remarkable transformation of the Olympics and his heroic efforts to rescue a venerable ancient institution from its self-inflicted wounds.

Weight: 364g
Dimension: 216 x 138 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781801501422