Australian Olympic Committee supremo John Coates steps down after 32 years

John Coates stepped down as Australian Olympic Committee president after a 32-year reign that secured two Games for his nation and left a string of opponents trampled in his wake. Dodgy hips prevented the 71-year-old from standing at the AOC's annual general meeting in Sydney, and he choked up with emotion at the end of his final president's address while thanking Australians for the chance to live his dreams. Yet in all other ways, Coates was in control, basking in the warmth of a room filled with sports officials who have profited from his power and influence on the global stage.

Among them was International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, who sat next to his right hand man and beamed as Coates detailed metrics from the 2020 Tokyo Games. As Bach's point-man for Tokyo, Coates played a key role in Japan ploughing ahead with the Games after their year-long postponement due to COVID-19. "We did something together that never has been done before -- and frankly, something that many people did not believe we could pull off," Bach said to Coates.

Ian Chesterman succeeds Coates as AOC President after beating a rival candidate. But Coates will remain a key powerbroker at home and abroad. His IOC vice-presidency lasts until the Paris 2024 Games, and he remains on the boards of the AOC executive and the organising committee for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Having played an indelible part in securing 2032, few in sports-mad Australia would begrudge him. Coates effectively rewrote the IOC's bid evaluation process, paving the way for fast-moving Brisbane to become the preferred candidate. As Bach noted in glowing tribute, Coates is the only national Olympic committee president to bring two Games to his country, having also