May 2025

As your mandate is coming to an end, the World Union of Olympic Cities would like to express its sincere gratitude for your constant and faithful support to both the Union and smartcities & sport. Olympic Cities and cities in general are important actors in promoting sport policies and sport-related values. What is your view on the role of cities & territories within the Olympic Movement?

First of all, let me thank you for your kind words and the fruitful cooperation with the World Union of Olympic Cities over the past 12 years. The World Union of Olympic Cities and its members represent an essential pillar of the Olympic community. When a city, region or country hosts the Olympic Games, it does far more than stage the world’s greatest sporting event — it becomes part of Olympic history and takes on the responsibility of carrying the Olympic values into the future. From the early phases of preparation to the long-term legacy efforts, Olympic cities and their legacy entities keep the Olympic spirit alive. They also play a crucial role in translating Olympic ideals into tangible policies — in education, public health, urban planning, economic development and tourism. In this way, they become lasting ambassadors of the Olympic Movement, using their experience to shape a more inclusive and sustainable society long after the Olympic Games have ended.

There is no fixed model for Games hosting. What is the IOC vision in terms of format and types of hosts for the Games?

The organisation of the Olympic Games is constantly evolving — and rightly so. Today’s model reflects a shift toward greater flexibility, adaptability and sustainability. Over the past decade, the Olympic Agenda reforms initiated by the IOC — first with Olympic Agenda 2020 and then with Olympic Agenda 2020+5 — have fundamentally changed how the Olympic Games are allocated, planned and delivered. These reforms encourage a model that is more flexible, more sustainable, and more aligned with local development goals. One of the most visible changes is the increasing number existing or temporary sites being used for the Olympic Games. Another key aspect is the multistakeholder nature of today’s Olympic projects. From the earliest stages, National Olympic Committees, Organising Committees, cities, co-hosts, regions and legacy entities work together in shaping Olympic Games that align with local needs and long-term visions. This collaborative approach reflects a broader transformation: the Olympic Games now adapt to the host — not the other way around.

Over the last 12 years, you have worked tirelessly to make the Olympic family more cohesive, broader, and more open to global issues. What do you see as the greatest challenge facing the Olympic movement today?

We have faced some of the most challenging moments in recent history, like a pandemic, geopolitical tensions and wars. We have overcome these challenges by staying true to our values. In this evermore divided world, the major challenge will be to maintain the unity of the Olympic Movement in all our diversity on the one hand, and to convince the divisive forces in our world to respect the unifying mission of sport on the other hand. Only in this way – by building bridges and not erecting even more walls – we can make our contribution to peace. 
When it comes to the organisation of the Olympic Games, we are in a solid position: we have Olympic hosts secured through 2034, we have double digit interest for future editions, a flourishing TOP programme, and the Olympic brand that continues to inspire worldwide. Within this broader success, the relationship with the World Union of Olympic Cities has grown deeper and more meaningful. Cities that once hosted the Olympic Games have become long-term partners in delivering legacy — and in doing so, they help ensure that the Olympic values remain relevant and alive in people’s everyday lives.

The legacy of the Olympic Games has now become a fundamental dimension of any project to host the Games. It represents a lever for mobilising, raising awareness and developing the sports-related policies of cities both before and after the events. How do you currently define the role of cities and legacy stakeholders in activating Olympic legacy?

Olympic cities are not just hosts for a few weeks — they are custodians of Olympic legacy for generations. They are involved from the very beginning, helping to design Olympic Games that are embedded within local realities. Today, the Olympic Games adapt to the host, and not the other way around. After the Olympic Games, cities — along with NOCs and legacy organisations — become the drivers of long-term impact. They activate legacy through public policies and community programmes. They keep Olympic history alive. Legacy entities, in particular, play a key role in translating Olympic values into concrete initiatives, from grassroots sport to wide-reaching social and environmental projects. Their work is essential to extending the impact of the Olympic Games well beyond the closing ceremony.

What is the main message you would like to convey on the relationship / collaboration between the IOC and the Union?

The collaboration between the IOC and the World Union of Olympic Cities has grown steadily over the years — and I believe it has a bright future ahead. This is thanks in no small part to the dedicated efforts of many individuals on both sides, but I would like to take this opportunity to pay special tribute to Grégoire Junod, whose leadership of the World Union over many years has been exemplary. With vision, energy and quiet determination, he has helped turn the World Union into a vibrant network of Olympic Cities and legacy stakeholders. The relationship has grown stronger through regular dialogue, shared events, and the close cooperation between our teams. With the continued engagement of cities, legacy organisations and partners beyond the Olympic community — including through the smartcities & sport summit — I see the World Union as a living platform, one that will continue to support cities in keeping the Olympic flame alive in their communities. And as a co-founder of the World Union alongside Athens, the City of Lausanne, my adopted hometown, remains a cornerstone of this dynamic and valuable partnership. 
As my time as IOC President comes to an end, I want to express my deep gratitude for the many years of partnership and friendship I have enjoyed with the World Union. We are united by our belief in Olympic values and by our shared passion for our Movement. As I prepare to pass the torch, I ask you to extend the same spirit of unity, solidarity and friendship to my successor, IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry, so that together, the IOC and the World Union can continue to make the Olympic flame shine even brighter in the future.