IOC Presidency Race Nears Conclusion with This Week's Election
The competition for the most influential position in global sports is reaching its peak, as members of the International Olympic Committee gather in Greece this week to select a new leader. With outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach preparing...
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The competition for the most influential position in global sports is reaching its peak, as members of the International Olympic Committee gather in Greece this week to select a new leader.
With outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach preparing to conclude his 12-year tenure, seven candidates are making their final appeals, hoping their efforts will be sufficient to win this prestigious role.
Bach is stepping down, and his successor will need to secure a majority of approximately 100 votes during Thursday's election.
The contenders include International Cycling Union chief David Lappartient, current IOC Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., World Athletics head Sebastian Coe, former Olympic swimming champion and current Zimbabwe Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry, Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, Federation of International Gymnastics chief Morinari Watanabe, and Federation of International Ski and Snowboard head Johan Eliasch.
The victor of Thursday's vote, scheduled to take place in a seaside resort near Pylos, Greece, will be responsible for guiding global sports alongside international sports federations, national Olympic committees, and the IOC's top sponsors.
Additionally, the next IOC President will need to promptly address several pressing issues to ensure the ongoing success of the Olympic Games, the cornerstone of the multi-billion dollar organization.
Among the challenges to be tackled is the formulation of definitive competition rules for transgender athletes. This topic could generate tension with the United States government, following President Donald Trump's recent decision to exclude transgender athletes from domestic competitions and national teams.
The IOC currently permits transgender athletes to participate in the Games but faces pressure to develop a comprehensive rule, rather than relying on the individual judgments of each sports federation.
The relationship with Trump will also be significant for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. All candidates have acknowledged the American leader's prior support for the Games, with Lappartient emphasizing the importance of the IOC maintaining its autonomy.
Furthermore, the new IOC President will need to address the situation concerning Russia, whose Olympic committee has faced a ban for breaching the Olympic Charter due to the country's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Some Russian athletes competed as neutrals during last year's Summer Games in Paris.
Bach leaves with the organization in a solid financial position, having secured $7.3 billion from media rights, sponsorships, and other revenue streams for 2025-28, along with $6.2 billion in contracts for 2029-2032.
Recently, the IOC also announced a $3 billion extension of NBCUniversal's U.S. Olympic media rights until 2036; however, the resignation of several sponsors over the past year has prompted discussions regarding potential changes to its marketing strategy.
To obtain the position, candidates will undergo multiple rounds of voting, with a majority victory unlikely in the initial rounds. The candidate receiving the fewest votes will be eliminated in each round.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
With outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach preparing to conclude his 12-year tenure, seven candidates are making their final appeals, hoping their efforts will be sufficient to win this prestigious role.
Bach is stepping down, and his successor will need to secure a majority of approximately 100 votes during Thursday's election.
The contenders include International Cycling Union chief David Lappartient, current IOC Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., World Athletics head Sebastian Coe, former Olympic swimming champion and current Zimbabwe Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry, Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, Federation of International Gymnastics chief Morinari Watanabe, and Federation of International Ski and Snowboard head Johan Eliasch.
The victor of Thursday's vote, scheduled to take place in a seaside resort near Pylos, Greece, will be responsible for guiding global sports alongside international sports federations, national Olympic committees, and the IOC's top sponsors.
Additionally, the next IOC President will need to promptly address several pressing issues to ensure the ongoing success of the Olympic Games, the cornerstone of the multi-billion dollar organization.
Among the challenges to be tackled is the formulation of definitive competition rules for transgender athletes. This topic could generate tension with the United States government, following President Donald Trump's recent decision to exclude transgender athletes from domestic competitions and national teams.
The IOC currently permits transgender athletes to participate in the Games but faces pressure to develop a comprehensive rule, rather than relying on the individual judgments of each sports federation.
The relationship with Trump will also be significant for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. All candidates have acknowledged the American leader's prior support for the Games, with Lappartient emphasizing the importance of the IOC maintaining its autonomy.
Furthermore, the new IOC President will need to address the situation concerning Russia, whose Olympic committee has faced a ban for breaching the Olympic Charter due to the country's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Some Russian athletes competed as neutrals during last year's Summer Games in Paris.
Bach leaves with the organization in a solid financial position, having secured $7.3 billion from media rights, sponsorships, and other revenue streams for 2025-28, along with $6.2 billion in contracts for 2029-2032.
Recently, the IOC also announced a $3 billion extension of NBCUniversal's U.S. Olympic media rights until 2036; however, the resignation of several sponsors over the past year has prompted discussions regarding potential changes to its marketing strategy.
To obtain the position, candidates will undergo multiple rounds of voting, with a majority victory unlikely in the initial rounds. The candidate receiving the fewest votes will be eliminated in each round.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
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