Seven candidates announced for IOC Presidency

Seven candidates will vie for the position of President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the 143rd IOC Session, scheduled for 18-21 March 2025 in Greece. The candidates, listed in alphabetical order, are:

— HRH Prince Feisal AL HUSSEIN (Jordan)
— Lord Sebastian COE (United Kingdom)
— Mrs. Kirsty COVENTRY (Zimbabwe)
— Mr. Johan ELIASCH (Sweden)
— Mr. David LAPPARTIENT (France)
— Mr. Juan Antonio SAMARANCH (Spain)
— Mr. Morinari WATANABE (Japan)

These leaders have officially announced their candidacies by the deadline of 15 September 2024. Each will present their programs in a closed session to the full IOC membership in Lausanne, Switzerland, in January 2025. This lineup includes two former Olympic champions, a Middle Eastern prince, and the son of a former IOC president. The leaders of global cycling, gymnastics, and skiing organizations are also in the mix.

Notably, Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe is the only woman in the race, aiming to become the first female president in the IOC’s 130-year history. Coventry, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, brings experience from her role as Zimbabwe’s sports minister and as an IOC executive board member.

Kirsty Coventry. Photo: aims.sport.

Sebastian Coe, another two-time Olympic champion from the UK, has extensive experience in sports administration, having led the successful London 2012 Olympics and served as president of World Athletics. However, he faces potential challenges due to the IOC’s age limit, as he will be 68 at the time of the election.

Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan, also on the IOC board, adds a royal presence to the race, while Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. of Spain, son of the former IOC president, brings a legacy of leadership as one of the IOC’s vice presidents.

Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan. Photo: Wikipedia.

Other candidates include David Lappartient of France, the president of cycling’s governing body, who recently oversaw the successful Paris Summer Games, and Morinari Watanabe of Japan, the head of gymnastics. Johan Eliasch, a newly elected IOC member and the president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, rounds out the list.

The IOC election is known for its discretion, with strict campaign rules limiting public endorsements and debates. Candidates will present their programs behind closed doors in Lausanne, Switzerland, in January 2025, ahead of the final vote in Greece.

The next IOC president will need to navigate the complexities of global sports politics, athlete welfare, and the financial responsibilities of managing an organization that generates billions in revenue from the Olympic Games. The election outcome will shape the future of the Olympic movement for the next eight years.

The current IOC President, Thomas Bach of Germany, who has served since 2013, will step down at the end of his second term in March 2025.

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Main photo: Sebastian Coe and Thomas Bach. Photo: Radio Beilefeld.