The race to succeed Thomas Bach as President of the International Olympic Committee reaches a climax on Thursday (March 20, 2025) with Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, Sebastian Coe and Kirsty Coventry believed to be neck and neck however away from the remaining quartet.
Any of these three can be an historic winner in the election in Costa Navarino, Greece.
Samaranch would emulate his father of the identical title and grow to be the primary father and son to be topped president, World Athletics president Coe can be the primary Briton and Zimbabwean Coventry the youngest at 41, and each the primary lady and African.
Nevertheless, surprises from the citizens of 100-plus IOC members can’t be dominated out in the battle to grow to be essentially the most highly effective determine in sports activities governance.
Ski federation chief and famend environmentalist Johan Eliasch, Morinari Watanabe, president of the worldwide gymnastics federation, biking head David Lappartient and Prince Feisal al-Hussein make up the heavyweight discipline.
The vote takes place behind closed doorways and simply as in the award-winning movie “Conclave” about cardinals selecting a brand new pope, all of the IOC members will likely be obliged to depart their telephones exterior the room.
Just off the unique resort is the positioning of the 1827 naval battle in the Greek War of Independence which resulted in a heavy defeat for the Ottoman Empire.
While this battle will likely be cold it’s got dirtier with the three primary candidates focused in the previous week as the competition enters the decisive stage.
Whoever wins will take over a financially safe physique, however these calm waters are muddied by a febrile geopolitical state of affairs.
Adding to the potent combine, the brand new IOC chief could have to cope with unpredictable US President Donald Trump as Los Angeles hosts the following Summer Olympics in 2028.
In this “very complex world”, as Samaranch termed it, the place beforehand undisputed truths similar to “universality, fraternity and unity” are actually disputed, it’s no time to take a leap in the darkish.
The 65-year-old Spaniard, an assured and polished performer with over twenty years as an IOC member, argues he gives the regular hand on the tiller that’s required.
“It is not about the face or the gender, or the continent,” he informed AFP in an interview.
“Even in the easiest of times, we should elect the best person for the job.
“This is just too vital and too related for too many individuals to experiment.”
Samaranch Junior would take over an IOC radically different to the one his father did in 1980 and then ran for over two decades, effectively saving it with a radical transformation of its finances.
Samaranch, though, while praising his father for overseeing the saving of “Olympism”, insists his era is not “remotely related in the present day.”
Coe appears to be seen by Bach as the disruptor candidate, which is perhaps surprising given many would view him as an establishment figure.
Ready to lead
While Samaranch Junior brings a calm urbanity, two-time Olympic 1,500 metres champion Coe oozes charisma and a ready wit.
Coe, 68, also boasts an impressive CV. A former lawmaker for the centre-right Conservatives, he led London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Games, surprising long-time front-runners Paris.
He then took the plaudits along with his team for the highly-praised hosting of the Games and has been credited with reforming track and field’s global body since becoming president in 2015.
He has promised IOC members will get a greater voice than it is felt has been the case during Bach’s 12-year tenure — Coe told AFP his approach would be “do not micro-manage”.
Both Samaranch Junior and Coe have conducted high-profile media campaigns in contrast to Coventry’s low-key strategy.
The seven-time Olympic swimming medallist is widely seen as being Bach’s preferred candidate, something she denies.
Although Bach refused to be drawn on this on Monday, saying only that a new era “requires new leaders”, a seriously ill IOC member has flown in to vote for Coventry.
Coventry says if she is elected it would be a huge moment for her continent.
“For Africa, it might open up, I feel, many alternatives for various management roles to say, proper, as Africa we’re prepared,” she said.
“We’re prepared to lead.”
There have been complaints from the majority of the candidates, including Coe, over the electoral rules — mainly that not enough engagement is permitted with the IOC members.
Coe appears to be battling against the odds — it has been reported Bach has been phoning members advising them to not vote for him.
However, that may not have the impact Bach hopes. “Never write Coe off,” one IOC member told AFP. “He is a winner.”
Published – March 20, 2025 05:00 am IST
