The Greek capital was awarded the 2025 Session, where IOC President Thomas Bach's successor will be elected, during the virtual meeting of the membership today.

The Session this week had been due to take place in Athens to mark the 125th anniversary of the first Modern Olympic Games before it was moved online as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was ceremonially opened by Hellenic Olympic Committee President and IOC member Spyros Capralos at the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, which hosted the Games in 1896.

Members approved a proposal to "postpone" Athens' hosting of the event to 2025 by virtually raising their hands.

The main agenda item at the Session in four years' time will be to elect the 10th IOC President.

Bach, re-elected IOC President yesterday, is due to stand down in 2025 after serving the maximum of 12 years - one term of eight and another of four - in the position.

Athens first staged an IOC Session in 1896 at the time of the first Olympics of the modern era, though only seven members participated.

It also hosted in 1934 to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the IOC and again in 1954 and 1961.

The Session returned to Athens in 1978.

The last time the Greek capital hosted a Session was in 2004 at the time of the Olympic Games.

Athens was awarded the 2021 Session in 2019.

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Fact of the day

When British skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won the Olympic gold medal in ice dance at Sarajevo 1984 with 12 perfect 6.0s from every judge, for their interpretation of Maurice Ravel'sBoléro, an important member of their team was singer-actor Michael Crawford. Crawford, who had played Frank Spencer in British sitcomSome Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the title role in the musicalThe Phantom of the Opera, had become a mentor to the pair in 1981 and went on to help them create their Olympic routine. Crawford said he “taught them how to act". He was present with their trainer Betty Callaway at the ringside at Sarajevo as they created one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history.

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