At Olympic House, Lausanne, Switzerland 20 June 2023 World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros
Ghebreyesus has become the latest recipient of the prestigious Olympic Order after being
presented with the Honour by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas
Bach at a ceremony at Olympic House in Lausanne.
As the head of the WHO, Dr Tedros has played an inspirational role in ensuring the
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 took place, and supported the cooperation agreement
between the IOC and the WHO signed in 2020.
The Olympic Order is the highest award in the Olympic movement and was first presented
in 1975. Nelson Mandela, Pope Francis, Pope John Paul II and former Secretary-General
to the United Nations Kofi Annan are among previous recipients.
The Olympic Cup is the highest distinction for an
organisation with a proven record of promoting the ideals of the Olympic Movement.
In his speech, President Bach said: “For many of our initiatives we rely on the expertise,
input and engagement of the WHO. In this respect, you, dear Tedros, have set the pace –
because from the very day we signed our cooperation agreement, you have led by
example, driving our cooperation forward with so much energy, leadership and
commitment.”
