Bach joins celebrations as Uruguayan NOC marks centenary

A commemorative stamp featuring portraits of Thomas Bach and Pierre de Coubertin has been unveiled to mark the Uruguayan Olympic Committee's centenary ©IOC/Greg Martin

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach joined the celebrations as the Uruguayan National Olympic Committee marked its centenary in Montevideo.

The celebrations included the launching of a commemorative stamp at the Legislative Palace.

The stamp features portraits of Bach and founder of the modern Olympic Movement Pierre de Coubertin.

At a ceremony to unveil the stamp vice-president of El Correo Julio Silveira explained the motivation behind it was to honour the Olympic Movement and the Uruguayan National Olympic Committee.

During his visit to Uruguay Bach joined in with games of volleyball and spotting, a ball game popular among the country’s students.

President Bach celebrated the NOC of Uruguay's centenary in Montevideo, where an official Olympic postage stamp was unveiled. He also visited Argentina, addressing the NOC Executive Committee, National Federation presidents, and officially opening a new Olympic Museum. pic.twitter.com/CE2xNw17lO
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) October 25, 2023

Another highlight was a talk to 150 young athletes who are all members of a Uruguayan National Olympic Committee programme that supports them with their preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

Bach also took part in a gala dinner to celebrate the Uruguayan National Olympic Committee’s centenary.

He received the distinction of illustrious visitor from the Municipality of Montevideo.

It was Bach’s second visit to Uruguay as IOC President, with his previous visit coming in 2017 when Punta del Este hosted the Panam Sports Congress, in which Julio Maglione replaced stood down as President and was replaced by Neven Ilic.