His Royal Highness The Crown Prince has decided to step down as an active member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The decision will formally take effect at the committee’s annual session, which takes place at the end of July prior to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

The Crown Prince was chosen as a Danish member of the IOC in 2009, and, in September 2017, His Royal Highness was re-elected to his second term. It was originally The Crown Prince’s thought to step down from the IOC after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. But, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the games were postponed until this summer, and therefore The Crown Prince is announcing his decision now. The Crown Prince states the following in connection with his decision to step down: 

“It has been a great privilege for me to help with spreading the Olympic ideals for nearly 12 years. In particular, I have had a burning desire to get both young and older people up and active with a life involving sports and exercise. My work in the IOC inspired me to, among other things, establish Royal Run, of which I am very proud. Even though my life as an active IOC member ends in Tokyo, I will continue to carry the Olympic values forward in my future activities.

The decision to step down gives me the opportunity to intensify my work with other important topics, among others in relation to Denmark’s position as one of the world’s leading nations within the green agenda, sustainability and innovation.” 

As an IOC member, The Crown Prince has worked over 12 years to inspire young people to live a healthy and active life – especially through his work in the IOC committee Sport for All and most recently in the planning group behind last year’s Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland. In addition to that, The Crown Prince has helped to influence the work of the Olympics in a sustainable direction. Among other ways, this has taken place through his membership in the steering committees "Sport and Environment" and "Sustainability and Legacy". Likewise, The Crown Prince has continuously participated in commission meetings and workshops in which The Crown Prince has focused especially on sustainability projects within the organization. 

It is customary for long-standing IOC members who have made extraordinary efforts to continue as honorary members of the committee after stepping down. The decision about this is made by the IOC’s board. The Crown Prince has expressed his interest to the IOC in such a passive membership. 
 

Lene Balleby
Director of Communications