IOC President looks to the future of European sport at the EU Sport Forum 2025

Looking forward to Milano Cortina 2026

President Bach expressed excitement for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, which will once again bring the world’s best athletes to Europe. He highlighted the opportunity to showcase the best of Italy and of Europe to the world, with its sporting traditions, commitment to sustainability, and the power of sport to unite people. Milano Cortina 2026 will benefit from the Olympic Agenda reforms, utilising existing world-class venues in iconic winter sports locations. “Together with our Italian partners and friends, we are looking forward to Olympic Winter Games that will pulsate with Italy’s passion for sport and highlight Italy’s unique culture and heritage,” Bach conveyed.

Embracing artificial intelligence

In his address, the IOC President also stressed the role of embracing new opportunities, in particular artificial intelligence (AI), in the future of sports. “When it comes to AI, we can concentrate on supporting the human being. This is why our approach to AI is athlete-centred and human-centred,” President Bach said. He called for global regulation to ensure that AI upholds human dignity, encourages technological innovation, and ensures equitable progress within and among societies. “We will live up to our vision of equality through solidarity by making the benefits of AI available to everyone in the Olympic Movement around the globe,” the IOC President stated.

A call for unity and cooperation

The IOC President recalled the importance of protecting the neutrality of the Olympic Games.