The final stop in the IOC President’s African tour was Cameroon. Here, he was welcomed by the new IOC Member, Odette Assembe Engoulou, and the NOC President, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum. Issa Hayatou, Honorary IOC Member, was also present. The visit kicked off with a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister of Cameroon, Joseph Ngute, on 14 November 2019 at the Hilton Hotel, Yaounde. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister told the visiting official that: “Sport is the first choice activity in my country. It contributes to Cameroon’s international influence and is a factor in consolidating national unity and integration; it is a vehicle for social cohesion and inclusion.”
He reassured Thomas Bach that Cameroon was committed, among other things, to the Olympic values of solidarity, universality, dialogue, diversity and respect. The Prime Minister said that Cameroon supports the participation of its athletes in the Olympic Games, builds modern and futuristic sports facilities and is currently preparing its athletes for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
In response to the proposed toast, the IOC President said: “I would like to encourage and motivate NOC Cameroon and the government to embrace the power of sport and join hands to build a better future for young people and the Cameroonian society. You can always count on the support of the International Olympic Committee.”
Bach visits the Centre for Olympic Studies
Le président du CIO et sa délégation ont, au cours de During this Cameroonian lap of his tour, the IOC President and his delegation visited the African Centre for Olympic Studies to appraise the work done by this institution.
The dignitaries of the Olympic Movement also attended an international badminton qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics. Thomas Bach also met with athletes with whom he chatted lengthily.
