Bach to Tokyo Games: "Great success for Japan, the IOC and the sports world"

IOC President Thomas Bach has already classified the summer games of Tokyo, which was located by the Corona Pandemic, before the final celebration on Sunday as "great success for Japan, the IOC and the entire sports world". Like the Chairman of the International Olympic Committee at the Balance Sheet Press Conference on Friday, the anti-corona measures would have "grabbed". Bach added, however, "There are still two and a half days, we are in alertness and attentive."

Further, the 67-year-old shorn in front of the more than 11,000 active in Japan's capital: "The athletes have given Tokyo the Olympic soul. After the decision that no viewers are allowed to accept, I have to admit that I was worried These games could become games without soul. But what we have seen here is quite different. "

Among the athletes, the atmosphere "more intense" had ever been, according to the fencing Olympic champion of 1976: "You could see how much you were looking forward to and how grateful they were to see and be together." The sporty level was "very high" to his surprise, said Bach, "The games have far exceeded my expectations."

Shortly before the opening ceremony, the always confident had revealed to have been working on the pandemie-based laying in March 2020 some sleepless nights. However, a cancellation was "never an option for us," he said a good three weeks ago: "The IOC never leaves his athletes down. Everything we have made for the athletes." On Friday he saw himself confirmed in his decision.

Princes on the winter games in Beijing, who started on February 4, 2022, Bach did not want. Two inquiries were blocked by IOC speakers Mark Adams with the reference that it is the closing press conference of Tokyo Games.

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