10 January 2025 – International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach visited the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Slovakia this week. In Bratislava, he could witness the deep involvement of Olympians in the leadership of the NOC and the National Sports Federations, the contribution of the NOC and the Slovak sports movement to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN), and the excellent relationship the NOC enjoys with the national government.
The IOC President was welcomed by the IOC Member in Slovakia, Danka Hrbeková (Barteková), and the President of the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee, which serves as the NOC, Anton Siekel. Eight of the 12 NOC Executive Board members are Olympians, five of them medallists and three Olympic champions.
“In this area and in many other areas, the NOC of Slovakia is a role model,” said the IOC President. “The involvement of Olympians and former athletes has different meanings: that the Olympians want to give back to the Olympic Movement for the support and assistance they have received from the NOC, and that the relationship between NOC and athletes is working extremely well.” The NOC is actively contributing to the SDGs through various programmes, among others its Olympic Values Activities Programme, which reached around 100,000 young people in 2024.
Following a meeting with Olympians, and current and former athletes in the Olympic Museum of Bratislava, the IOC President received the “Golden Badge”, the NOC’s highest distinction, from President Siekel and Honorary President František Chmelar.
NOC Secretary General Jozef Liba said in his award speech: “Thomas Bach’s 12 years at the helm of the IOC are associated with, among other things, the adoption of the reform documents Olympic Agenda 2020 and Olympic Agenda 2020+5, the promotion of gender equality, the significant engagement of young people as future Olympic leaders, the establishment of the Refugee Olympic Team, and the IOC’s peace and environmental efforts. During his time at the helm of the IOC, the organisation’s significant societal standing and financial stability have been strengthened, benefitting the entire Olympic Movement.”
During his visit, the IOC President met the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico, who emphasised the role of sport in his country and called sport a “social phenomenon”. For Slovakia, the investment in sport is an investment in the youth and the young generation of the country. Slovakia has recently established a Ministry for Tourism and Sport. Bach said during the meeting: “You can be very proud of the work of the NOC in your country, and the work of Danka Hrbeková in the IOC.”
The Prime Minister thanked the IOC President for “everything you have done for sport. The IOC and the NOC enjoy a great deal of respect.” Prime Minister Fico underlined the role of sport in bringing people together. He applauded the fact that athletes from the territories of all 206 NOCs participated in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
“During my visit I could see the excellent cooperation between all partners you need to build a strong sports movement and to make a strong contribution to society in the country: the NOC and the National Federations, the public authorities and the private sector,” said Bach. He took part in the tapping of the foundation stone of the new 5,000-seat multi-sport arena in the Olympic training centre near Bratislava, which is being co-financed by the public authorities and the private sector.
