04 October 2024 – The final leg of the IOC President’s visit to the Americas took him to Asunción, Paraguay, for the LXII General Assembly of Panam Sports. The President was welcomed by Panam Sports President and IOC Member Neven Ilic, and the President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Paraguay, Camilo Pérez.

At the General Assembly, Ilic thanked President Bach for his leadership: “You have left a deep footprint in the whole Olympic Movement and around the world. Under your leadership, the Movement has successfully faced unprecedented challenges with your clear vision and strong convictions.” He continued, “Your reforms have ensured the Olympic Movement is prepared for future generations. From within and without our Movement, you have convinced so many of the transformative power of sport.”

President Bach then addressed the Assembly and noted the growing strength of the organisation and its many successes, with a record number of medals at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Turning to the future, he told the delegates: “The times may be changing, but the relevance of the role of sport in building a better and more peaceful world for all has never been more important.”

“There is a new world order in the making – a new world order with more geopolitical, social and economic uncertainties. A new world order in which Artificial Intelligence and the digital revolution are turbocharging the winds of change. The new generation is already sailing with these winds.”

Thomas Bach, IOC President

The full speech can be found here.

The Assembly later re-elected Neven Ilic as Panam Sports President for another four-year term.

Earlier in the visit, President Bach toured the impressive Olympic Centre in the Paraguayan capital, where he met athletes and Olympians who were training there. He toured the huge facility with NOC President Camilo Pérez, who has been responsible for its huge expansion and development during his presidency.

The impressive Centre has recently been expanded with a new velodrome and many new sports pitches. President Bach congratulated President Pérez on the development of the Centre and the contribution it is making to Paraguayan sport.

During his stay in Asunción, President Bach also held a meeting with the IOC Members present at the Panam Sports General Assembly.

Before leaving Asunción, President Bach paid a visit to the Presidential Palace for a meeting with Paraguayan President Santiago Pena. The two leaders discussed the current international situation and the part that sport can play in education, health and development. President Pena once again expressed his desire for Paraguay to host the Youth Olympic Games in the near future.