IOC President Prepares for Eastern European Tour

(ATR) IOC president Thomas Bach will travel to Armenia, Georgia and Kazakhstan in two weeks’ time.

European Olympic Committees president Patrick Hickey will accompany Bach to Armenia and Georgia. Hickey is in Kiev on Oct. 7 for the general assembly of the Ukraine NOC.

The Irish IOC executive board member joins Bach for a two-day visit to Armenia on Oct. 8.

They will be welcomed by president of the Olympic Committee of Armenia Gagik Tsarukyan and are also scheduled to meet with Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan

According to Armenian media, Bach and Hickey will take part in the unveiling of a statue honoring Armenia’s first Olympic champion Hrant Shahinyan on the second day of their visit.

In Georgia, they will attend the 25th anniversary celebration of the NOC. The date for that visit was not confirmed by the IOC.

The IOC has not yet revealed details of Bach’s schedule for Kazakhstan.

But the German IOC leader is sure to meet NOC officials in Kazakhstan. He will also meet with members of the Almaty 2022 Olympic bid.

In November, Bach will head to Bangkok to participate in the two-day general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees.

His address to ANOC delegates on Nov. 7 will include an update on Olympic Agenda 2020, Bach’s initiative to bring sweeping changes to the Olympic Movement.

Reported by Mark Bisson.

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