WBSC Congress awards IOC Honorary President Thomas Bach with Collar of Honour

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Congress has awarded International Olympic Committee (IOC) Honorary President for Life Thomas Bach the Order of Honour, the WBSC's supreme recognition of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of baseball/softball.

Born in 1953, a former foil fencer and Olympic gold medalist, Bach served as the ninth President of the IOC from 2013 to 2025 and is currently a Honorary President for Life of the IOC.

During his presidency, he guided the IOC through unprecedented challenges and into a brighter future, presiding over three Summer Olympic Games, including Tokyo 2020, where baseball and softball made their much-anticipated return to the Olympic programme.  

"I'm standing here with deep emotions in front of all you delegates of the WBSC Congress because I have just received from the hands of your great President [Riccardo] Fraccari the Collar of Honour of your great Federation," stated Bach in a video message.

"I've been accompanying the development of your Federation from the very beginning in 2014, and I still have very good memories of these not always easy days. But to see how your Federation has been flourishing under the leadership of Riccardo Fraccari over the last couple of years is an amazing success story of which all of you can be very proud," he added.

Bach continued: "You have understood that in this divided world, in this new, fast-developing world, sports need to change to not being changed by others. Your Federation has been leading by example in this respect. You have adopted Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and have developed numerous innovations. I think of Baseball5 and of your great engagement in eSports, which has become so successful in the meantime. I think of your Refugee Team and all the efforts you have been undertaking."

"I can only say thank you for all you have been doing and can only congratulate you for all your great achievements," added the IOC Honorary President.I'm saying these words from your splendid headquarters, which I had the honour to inaugurate a few years ago, and this makes it even more meaningful."

Bach then concluded: "At least for me, a circle comes to its close. We have been together since 2014, and we have inaugurated your wonderful headquarters. I now receive your great distinction, the Collar of Honour, at the headquarters. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, my dear friend President Fraccari, thank you, WBSC Members, and congratulations. Continue to go strong, just as you have in recent years—all the very best to you."

Thomas Bach is the eighth recipient of the WBSC Order of Honour after Reynaldo Gonzalez Sanchez (Cuba, 2016), Don Porter (USA, 2017), Ryozo Kato (Japan, 2018), Katsuhiko Kumazaki (Japan, 2019), Tom Peng (Chinese Taipei, 2022), Robert Ish Smith (USA, 2022), and Peter O'Malley (USA, 2022).