Former Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) Secretary General Filbert Bayi says he is leaving office as a happy and fulfilled person after dedicating 24 years to serving the country’s Olympic movement.
Bayi, who served as TOC Secretary General on a voluntary basis, described his tenure as a rewarding journey filled with valuable lessons, challenges and memorable experiences in promoting sports development in Tanzania.
“Standing with gratitude, pride and humility, I retire from a role that has defined so much of my life. After 24 years of volunteer service as Secretary General of the Tanzania Olympic Committee, I step back from a position I have cherished and learned from every single day,” Bayi said.
He added: “Twenty-four years hold countless meetings, decisions, partnerships and hours spent nurturing the Olympic spirit in our communities. They also represent a lifetime of memories with people who share a passion for sports, integrity and national pride.”
Bayi said his contribution to TOC was driven by passion rather than employment, noting that he served as a volunteer leader after retiring from the military as a Major.
“I had the privilege to serve not as a hired person, but as a volunteer; a retired army officer who believed deeply in doing the right thing for our athletes and for our country,” he said.
The celebrated former athlete pledged to continue supporting TOC and its future leadership, while encouraging his successor to prioritise athletes’ welfare, good governance and sustainable development.
He advised the incoming leadership to listen carefully, engage with athletes, coaches, national sports federations and communities, while upholding values of integrity, fairness, respect and accountability.
“Invest in people, promote mentorship, professional development and succession planning to ensure lasting impact beyond leadership terms. Champion sustainability by creating programmes and funding models that can survive leadership changes,” he advised.
Bayi expressed appreciation to athletes, coaches, TOC staff, volunteers, sports federations, community organisers, sponsors and partners, describing them as key contributors to the growth of the Olympic movement in Tanzania.
He praised athletes for their dedication, discipline and pursuit of excellence, saying they represent the Olympic spirit through their commitment and achievements.
“The athletes’ dedication, discipline and hunger for excellence have always been the heartbeat of the movement. You embody the Olympic spirit in its purest form,” he said.
Reflecting on his tenure, Bayi highlighted achievements including strengthening Olympic values, developing talent identification programmes, promoting fair play and improving governance, transparency and accountability within the committee.
He said TOC worked to create inclusive opportunities for Tanzanians to participate in sports at different levels while supporting athletes to achieve success nationally and internationally.
Bayi leaves office with a distinguished sporting legacy. He is a former world record holder in the 1500 metres, where he clocked 3:32.2 in 1974, and the one-mile race with a time of 3:51.1.
He also won a silver medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.
Beyond athletics, Bayi has received several honours, including the Medal of the United Republic of Tanzania, Commonwealth Games Administrator of the Year award in 2006 and the Commonwealth Games Federation’s Order of Merit.
“These recognitions reflect a shared achievement and success built with and through teams across many generations,” he said.
Bayi said his transition from athletics and the military into sports administration had been guided by discipline, strategic thinking and teamwork, which helped shape his approach to leadership, governance and mentorship at TOC.
