Uganda Olympic Committee welcomes IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach for historic visit

By Emmanuel Sekago

The Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) and the Uganda Olympic family are honored and excited to welcome  Dr. Thomas Bach OLY, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Dr. Bach, along with his team, will be in Uganda tomorrow, (Tuesday)October 22nd to 24th, 2024, as part of a five-nation tour across Africa. His visit underscores the growing significance of Uganda on the international sporting stage.
“We are thrilled to host Dr. Thomas Bach and his team here in Uganda,” remarked UOC President Dr. Donald Rukare. “His visit is a monumental moment for the country, as he engages with our athletes, Olympians, and the broader sports community. It demonstrates the importance of fostering strong relationships between Uganda and the global Olympic movement.”

During his stay in Uganda, Dr. Bach is set to meet with a wide range of key stakeholders in the sports sector, including leaders of national sports associations and federations, senior government officials, and prominent figures in Uganda’s leadership.

His engagements will include discussions with the Minister of State for Sports, the Rt Hon Prime Minister, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Mama Janet Museveni, and His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

A significant highlight of Dr. Bach’s visit will be his tour of the Game Connect 2 project, which focuses on promoting social protection and mental health support for refugees from three key locations within the country.

The IOC President’s involvement in this initiative reflects his commitment to using sports as a tool for social impact, particularly for vulnerable communities such as refugees. The Game Connect project aligns with the IOC’s broader mission of leveraging sports for development and peace.

In addition to these engagements, Dr. Bach will address the media on October 23rd, at the Uganda Olympic Committee gardens, providing insights into his African tour and his perspectives on the future of sports in Uganda and the region.

Dr. Bach’s visit continues a tradition of Uganda hosting prominent international sports leaders. He follows in the footsteps of notable figures such as International Boxing Association (IBA) President Umar Kremlev, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe, all of whom have visited Uganda in recent years, further elevating the country’s profile in global sports.

As the president of the IOC since 2013, Dr. Thomas Bach is widely regarded as a transformative figure in the global Olympic movement. A former Olympic fencer, Bach won gold at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, and has since dedicated his life to the promotion of sports and the Olympic values.

His leadership has seen the Olympic Games evolve to embrace sustainability, gender equality, and innovation, while also advancing sports diplomacy across the world.

Stakeholders in Uganda are eagerly awaiting his visit, as they believe it will have a lasting impact on the nation’s sporting infrastructure and global presence.

As one stakeholder noted in an interview with Wallnet News, “Dr. Bach’s visit is a reflection of Uganda’s growing importance in international sports.

We look forward to the inspiration and direction his visit will bring to our athletes and sports leaders.”
Dr. Bach’s presence in Uganda is expected to inspire a new generation of athletes and amplify the country’s efforts in sports development, as Uganda continues to build its legacy in the global sporting arena.