The race for the next International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidency is heating up, with seven candidates stepping into the spotlight for next year's election. Among them are World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe, multi-millionaire and Olympic newcomer Johan Eliasch, and Zimbabwe's Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry.
Joining the fray are IOC Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch, cycling chief David Lappartient, Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, and international gymnastics federation head Morinari Watanabe. These candidates will vie to succeed the current 70-year-old German president, Thomas Bach, who is set to step down after a 12-year tenure.
The pivotal election is scheduled to take place during the IOC session in ancient Olympia, Greece, this March. Prior to the vote, all candidates will present their platforms behind closed doors to the IOC’s 111 members in January, outlining their vision for the future of the Olympic Games and the expansive multi-billion dollar industry it governs.
Sebastian Coe, a 67-year-old former Olympic champion, brings a wealth of experience from his time leading the London 2012 Games and the British Olympic Association. Despite a rocky relationship between World Athletics and the IOC, Coe has been a member since 2020 and is seen as a strong contender with deep roots in the sports world.
As the election approaches, the global sports community eagerly watches to see who will take the helm of the IOC, guiding the future of one of the world's most prestigious and influential sporting organizations.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
