Thomas Bach mourns the loss of Wolfgang Schäuble

Thomas Bach expressed his condolences on the death of Wolfgang Schäuble. GETTY IMAGES

IOC President Thomas Bach has mourned the death of his compatriot Wolfgang Schäuble at the age of 81. He deeply regretted that the former Federal Minister of the Interior and President of the Bundestag, Wolfgang Schäuble, had passed away in his sleep.

Elected to the Bundestag in 1972, he had a lasting influence on German politics. He was a key advocate for the reunification of Germany in 1990, following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Russian-led communist regime known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

"He always emphasised the unifying power of sport to bring people together without discrimination. He lived the Olympic values" and "always respected and promoted the autonomy of sport," the IOC President said in a press release.

Condolences came not only from the sports community, but also from the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, who said: "Wolfgang Schäuble shaped our country for more than a half a century, as a member of parliament, as a minister and as President of the Bundestag. With his passing, Germany has lost a sharp thinker, a passionate politician and a tenacious democrat."

In Wolfgang Schäuble verliert die Olympische Bewegung einen großen Unterstützer und Freund des Sports. Er hat stets die einende Kraft des Sports betont, der alle Menschen ohne jede Diskriminierung zusammenbringt. - IOC-Präsident Bach würdigt den verstorbenen Wolfgang Schäuble. pic.twitter.com/7GtkZRc5A2
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) December 27, 2023

Known for his role in the reunification of the two Germanys in 1990, the conservative politician rose to prominence as finance minister under Angela Merkel. In this position, he embodied Berlin's fiscal rigour and took a firm stance towards countries affected by the eurozone debt crisis, including Greece and Spain.

After surviving an assassination attempt in 1990, the former long-serving German MP was left paralysed and in a wheelchair. Despite this attack and his resulting disability, he remained active in politics, playing a significant role in both Germany and the European Union, as well as contributing to the field of sport in general.

In the field of sport, the former President of the German Bundestag made a valuable intellectual and pragmatic contribution by championing for the values of sport. His compatriot and IOC President Thomas Bach expressed his gratitude in the quoted press release.

"During this time, he was instrumental in the German Bundestag adopting a resolution to strengthen the autonomy of sport and the role of sport in positive social development, which was adopted by a cross-party majority. Also during my term as IOC President, he was always at my side with advice and support, for which I am deeply grateful," he concluded.