Meeting with IOC-President Thomas Bach

On March 8, 2019, a meeting between Mr. Bach and Stephan Wassong took place in Lausanne. In a one-hour talk, Mr. Wassong first informed the President of the IOC about the research and teaching priorities of the Center for Olympic Studies at the German Sport University. Mr. Bach showed great interest in the ongoing research project on the foundation of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and the analysis of its initiatives between 1981 and 2000. Mr. Wassong also reported on the development of the M.A. Olympic Studies, which has been supported by the IOC financially from central funds and through the scholarship system of Olympic Solidarity since 2012. Mr. Bach was very positive about the report and considers the programme and its ongoing support from the IOC as highly valuable in the further development of Olympic education.

The meeting also served as an opportunity to exchange views on the reorientation of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee (CIPC), an organization officially recognized by the IOC. Mr. Wassong has been the President of the CIPC since January 2018. Thus, this constituted his first opportunity in this role to inform the IOC President about the projects during the initial four-year term. Mr. Bach attributed great importance to the CIPC's publishing, exhibition and teaching projects for the Olympic Movement and, in particular, supports the intention of the CIPC to analyze the relevance of Coubertin's ideas for today`s profile of the Olympic Movement.