Seven candidates are in the running for the prestigious position of International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, with manifestos being published recently. One notable candidate, Sebastian Coe, has proposed a unique approach by offering to serve half of the eight-year term and then stand for re-election in 2029. Coe, who currently serves as the World Athletics president, aims to implement transformative changes over the next four years.
The upcoming election, scheduled for March 18-21 near Ancient Olympia in Greece, will see IOC members selecting the new president. The candidates are focusing on giving members a more significant role in choosing future host cities, a departure from the current practice of rubber-stamping a single candidate selected by the IOC administration.
Several candidates, including Coe, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., and Prince Feisal al Hussein, have pledged to empower members and increase their involvement in IOC decisions. They have also proposed raising the retirement age for members from 70 to 75 years.
Only IOC members are eligible to run for the presidency, and the other contenders include Kirsty Coventry, Johan Eliasch, David Lappartient, and Morinari Watanabe, all presidents of various sports governing bodies.
The campaign, characterized by strict rules limiting self-promotion and voter engagement, will see candidates presenting themselves to voters at a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on January 30. The IOC, which has had predominantly male leadership throughout its history, is yet to have a female president.
Challenges facing the next IOC president include selecting a host for the 2036 Olympics, addressing climate change's impact on the sports calendar, gender issues in sports, reintegrating Russia fully into the Olympic Games, and securing a new U.S. broadcast deal post the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
The IOC presidency is subject to a 12-year term limit, with the option for presidents to seek a second term after an initial eight-year term. The election of the new IOC president is eagerly anticipated by the global sports community.
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