Sport and politics do mix, says Thomas Bach
IOC chief tells officials of Asian codes that they can't remain in isolation and must start to work more closely with leaders of regional nations
IOC chief Thomas Bach told Asian sporting leaders to start working more closely with politicians in their regions, insisting that the old adage that sport and politics don't mix does not hold water in present times.
"Some people say that sport has nothing to do with politics, or sport has nothing to do with business or money. This was in the past. We have to change this attitude which is wrong," said Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee on Saturday.
Some people say that sport has nothing to do with politics, or sport has nothing to do with business or money. This was in the past. We have to change this attitude which is wrong
Bach, who gave a keynote address to Asian sporting leaders at the general assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia, stressed that sport could not work in seclusion.
"It's time that sport is no longer isolated from politics. We have always said that we are independent. It's true, and our independence from politics is always a must, but you need to have a dialogue with the politicians in order to build a better future for society. It makes no sense to be isolated," Bach said.
"We will always be neutral, but we will talk to politicians and work with institutions like the UN. Talking to politicians will avoid creating fractures and possibly solve some problems more quickly. Our rules are valid all over the world and we must defend them with a constant dialogue with politicians and therefore society," he added.
In his first term as IOC president, the German is trying hard to bring about the evolution of the Olympic movement and has called for sweeping changes with his Agenda 2020 blueprint which envisages a more flexible Olympic bidding process and sports programme, as well as lower costs for hosting the Games.