May 10, 2019 - Maite, Guam

Note: This article is from the Pacific Daily News, a proud partner of Team Guam and the Guam National Olympic Committee. Story posted on May 11, 2019 by Jojo Santo Tomas.

Wearing a fresh lei draped upon him moments before, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach heads to his motorcade after his arrival on the tarmac of the A.B. Won Pat Guam International Airport on May 10, 2019. (Photo: Jojo Santo Tomas/PDN)

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach arrived on Guam Friday evening, part of a mini-tour of Australia and three other island National Olympic Committees.

Bach landed via private jet along with an entourage that also included:

• Dr. Robin Mitchell, M.D., IOC Sr. Vice President, Acting President Association of National Olympic Committees and President of Oceania National Olympic Committees
• Pere Miro, IOC deputy director;
• James MacLeod, IOC director of National Olympic Committees Relations and Olympic Solidarity
• Mark Adams, IOC director of Communications.

Bach's trip to Guam followed a tour of Australia's Gold Coast. He arrived on Guam from Palau and will head to Hong Kong on May 11, said Ricardo Blas, president of the Guam National Olympic Committee.

Along with Blas and GNOC Secretary General Bob Steffy and several others, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and first gentleman Jeffrey Cook waited on the tarmac for Bach's arrival. It touched down just after 6 p.m. Leon Guerrero draped a necklace of fresh flowers around Bach's neck after shaking his hand and welcoming him to Guam.

"To have great people welcome him; the governor, first gentleman, and entourage of government support basically demonstrates Guam's welcome to the president of the IOC," said Blas.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach, in white, shakes hands with Tony Babauta, chief of staff for Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero while Bob Steffy, secretary general of Guam's National Olympic Committee waits his turn. At left is GNOC president Ricardo Blas. (Photo: Jojo Santo Tomas/PDN)

"I feel very honored. ... I look forward to our dinner tonight to get to know him better," said Leon Guerrero. "He seemed very down to earth, an approachable man, and I feel very proud to welcome him here as the governor of Guam."

Following his arrival at a reception dinner at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort, Bach met with other island dignitaries, as well as leaders of Guam's many sports federations and heads of Guam businesses that are stakeholders in Guam sports.

First gentleman Jeffrey Cook, left, along with Guam National Olympic Committee president Ricardo Blas, center and secretary general Bob Steffy, await the arrival of IOC president Thomas Bach on the tarmac of the AB Won Pat Guam International Airport on May 10, 2019. (Photo: Jojo Santo Tomas/PDN)

On May 11, Bach was scheduled to tour the GNOC facilities in Maite and meet members of GNOC's Athlete's Commission, more members of Guam's sports federations and aspiring members of Guam's national teams following a news conference set for 10:45 a.m. Saturday.