Heavyweight trio eye historical past in race to succeed Olympics chief Bach

President of the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC)Thomas Bach speaks in the course of the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece, the place the subsequent IOC President shall be elected on March 19, 2025, in Costa Navarino, Greece.
| Picture Credit score: Getty Pictures

The race to succeed Thomas Bach as President of the Worldwide 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 within the election in Costa Navarino, Greece.

Samaranch would emulate his father of the identical title and change into 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.

Nonetheless, surprises from the voters of 100-plus IOC members can’t be dominated out within the battle to change into 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 area.

The vote takes place behind closed doorways and simply as within the award-winning movie “Conclave” about cardinals selecting a brand new pope, all of the IOC members shall be obliged to go away their telephones outdoors the room.

Simply off the unique resort is the location of the 1827 naval battle within the Greek Warfare of Independence which resulted in a heavy defeat for the Ottoman Empire.

Whereas this battle shall be cold it’s got dirtier with the three predominant candidates focused up to now 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 scenario.

Including to the potent combine, the brand new IOC chief must take care of unpredictable US President Donald Trump as Los Angeles hosts the subsequent Summer time Olympics in 2028.

On this “very complicated world”, as Samaranch termed it, the place beforehand undisputed truths akin to “universality, fraternity and unity” are actually disputed, it’s no time to take a leap in the dead of night.

The 65-year-old Spaniard, an assured and polished performer with over 20 years as an IOC member, argues he supplies the regular hand on the tiller that’s required.

“It’s not in regards to the face or the gender, or the continent,” he instructed AFP in an interview.

“Even within the best of occasions, we must always elect one of the best individual for the job.

“That is too essential and too related for too many individuals to experiment.”

Samaranch Junior would take over an IOC radically completely different to the one his father did in 1980 after which ran for over 20 years, successfully saving it with a radical transformation of its funds.

Samaranch, although, whereas praising his father for overseeing the saving of “Olympism”, insists his period shouldn’t be “remotely related immediately.”

Coe seems to be seen by Bach because the disruptor candidate, which is maybe stunning given many would view him as an institution determine.

Prepared to guide

Whereas Samaranch Junior brings a relaxed urbanity, two-time Olympic 1,500 metres champion Coe oozes charisma and a prepared wit.

Coe, 68, additionally boasts a powerful CV. A former lawmaker for the centre-right Conservatives, he led London’s profitable bid to host the 2012 Video games, stunning long-time front-runners Paris.

He then took the plaudits alongside along with his group for the highly-praised internet hosting of the Video games and has been credited with reforming observe and area’s world physique since changing into president in 2015.

He has promised IOC members will get a better voice than it’s felt has been the case throughout Bach’s 12-year tenure — Coe instructed AFP his strategy can be “do not micro-manage”.

Each Samaranch Junior and Coe have carried out high-profile media campaigns in distinction to Coventry’s low-key technique.

The seven-time Olympic swimming medallist is broadly seen as being Bach’s most well-liked candidate, one thing she denies.

Though Bach refused to be drawn on this on Monday, saying solely {that a} new period “requires new leaders”, a significantly sick IOC member has flown in to vote for Coventry.

Coventry says if she is elected it could be an enormous second for her continent.

“For Africa, it could open up, I believe, many alternatives for various management roles to say, proper, as Africa we’re prepared,” she mentioned.

“We’re prepared to guide.”

There have been complaints from nearly all of the candidates, together with Coe, over the electoral guidelines — primarily that not sufficient engagement is permitted with the IOC members.

Coe seems to be battling in opposition to the chances — it has been reported Bach has been phoning members advising them to not vote for him.

Nonetheless, that will not have the influence Bach hopes. “By no means write Coe off,” one IOC member instructed AFP. “He’s a winner.”