2025年3月18日，国际奥委会（IOC）主席托马斯·巴赫今日在希腊古奥林匹亚的国际奥林匹克学院，开启第144届国际奥委会全会。他以“价值为先”（Values First）为主题，回顾奥林匹克精神的历史意义，并表达对奥林匹克运动未来的信心。新当选的希腊总统康斯坦丁·塔苏拉斯出席了开幕仪式。
巴赫指出，奥运会及其价值观已延续数千年，正是这些价值赋予奥运会独特意义。他强调：“作为守护者，我们有责任团结在这些价值观周围，将它们传承给后代。”他同时警示，奥林匹克价值虽历久弥新，却也脆弱。古代奥运会正因政治和商业利益的侵蚀而消亡，直到131年前，顾拜旦男爵才让奥运复兴。
“今天，在古奥林匹亚开启全会，是我们感受过去、现在与未来交汇的时刻。”巴赫说。这次会议期间，第10任国际奥委会主席将正式选出，接替即将在今年6月卸任的巴赫。
他特别致谢希腊东道主，并称“希腊文明赠予世界两大珍贵财富：民主和奥林匹克运动”。他还回顾了古代奥运会的奥林匹克休战（ekecheiria）传统，强调奥运会与和平自古相连。
巴赫提到，顾拜旦的心脏安葬于古奥林匹亚，这里象征着古代与现代奥林匹克精神的交汇。他引用顾拜旦的话：“奥运会是对过去的朝圣，也是对未来的信仰。”
“让我们坚守‘价值为先’，在缅怀根基的同时，开创奥林匹克运动更加光明的未来。”巴赫在演讲最后呼吁。
IOC President Thomas Bach today opened the 144th IOC Session at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece. Under the theme “Values First,” Bach reflected on the enduring significance of Olympic values and expressed strong confidence in the future of the Olympic Movement. The newly elected President of Greece, Constantine Tassoulas, attended the opening ceremony.
Bach emphasised that it is these values that have made the Olympic Games unique for millennia. “As guardians, we have a responsibility to unite around these values and pass them on to future generations,” he said. At the same time, he warned that these values remain fragile. The ancient Olympic Games perished when political and commercial interests overpowered the ideals of sport, and it took Pierre de Coubertin to revive them 131 years ago.
“Gathering here in Ancient Olympia, we experience a rare moment where the past, present, and future come together,” Bach said. During this Session in Greece, the IOC will elect its 10th President to succeed Bach, whose term ends this June.
Bach expressed his deep gratitude to the Greek hosts, noting that “Greece and its civilisation have gifted the world two treasures: democracy and the Olympic Games.” He also reminded IOC Members of the ancient Olympic Truce (ekecheiria), highlighting the deep historical connection between the Olympic Games and peace.
He reflected on the fact that Pierre de Coubertin’s heart rests in Ancient Olympia, symbolising the union of ancient and modern Olympic ideals. Quoting de Coubertin, Bach said: “The Olympic Games are a pilgrimage to the past and an act of faith in the future.”
“With ‘Values First’ as our guide, let us honour our roots and work together to shape an even brighter future for the Olympic Movement,” Bach concluded.