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The candidates to succeed the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, have been announced following the 70-year-old Olympic gold medallist’s decision to step down.
“Change or be changed,” were the words Thomas Bach uttered at the IOC’s 142nd Session in early August as he announced plans to step down following the Paris 2024 Olympic Games saying “New times are calling for new leaders.”
Now, those new leaders have been laid out before us in a new list published by the International Olympic Committee on Monday.
There are few surprises with World Athletics chief, Sebastian Coe the top billing having previously heavily hinted at his candidacy last month.
Coe is joined by six other would-be candidates including IOC executive board member and the only other two-time gold medallist athlete, Kirsty Coventry.
Many had hoped either Coventry of Zimbabwe, Aruba’s Nicole Hoevertsz or Morocco’s Nawal El Moutawakel would declare their candidacy and make a change from the IOC’s male-dominated past.
Coventry is the only female candidate and would become the first woman and first African to head the IOC in its 130-year history.
The candidates are set to run for election at the 143rd IOC Session scheduled from March 18 to 21
Here are the profiles of those bidding to become the 10th IOC President compiled by AFP Sports:
Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe)
Coventry, who turned 41 on Monday, bids to become not only the first woman but also the first person from Africa to head the IOC.
She has an impressive Olympic record with seven swimming medals, including two golds with the then-Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe describing her as a “golden girl” in 2008.
She has forged a successful career in sports administration since hanging up her swimming cap in 2016.
She has been the Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation in Zimbabwe since 2019.
On the IOC front — of which she has been a member since 2013 — she has chaired the IOC Athlete’s Commission and served on the IOC Executive Board since 2018.
She heads the Coordination Commission for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
Sebastian Coe (Great Britain)
Despite the rules laid down last Thursday, which on age alone could be a barrier, Coe has shown the same single-minded determination he displayed in his legendary athletics career in declaring himself a runner — the question is can he emerge, like he did twice in successive Olympics (1 500m in 1980/84), a winner.
His golden touch has carried on into his administrative career.
David Lappartient (France)
The ambitious Frenchman has thrown his hat into the ring despite only being an IOC member for two years.
Despite that, the 51-year-old’s CV is impressive.
He has seven successful years as president of the International Cycling Union and brought much-needed calm after a period of infighting to the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) when he was elected in June 2023.
He said it ran counter to the values of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the Frenchman credited with founding the modern Olympics.
Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior (Spain)
The 64-year-old, son of the man who was IOC president from 1980-2001 and transformed it into a commercial powerhouse, is a big player within the movement.
Samaranch Junior is a former perfume salesman and banker who is in his second stint as an IOC Vice-President. He is media savvy and an excellent communicator.
Prince Faisal al-Hussein (Jordan)
The younger brother of King Abdullah II, Prince Faisal bids to become the first Asian president of the IOC. He set up Generations For Peace, a non-profit peace-building organisation using sporting programmes, in 2007.
Johan Eliasch (Sweden / Great Britain)
The Sweden-born multi-billionaire businessman and environmentalist is the former CEO of the Head sporting goods company and was elected as international ski federation president in 2021. — AFP
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