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IOC Prepares for Historic Presidential Election Amid Tight Race

With voting set for Thursday, frontrunners Coventry, Coe, and Samaranch Jr. aim to address geopolitical, social, and operational challenges facing the Olympic Movement.

The Olympic rings symbol is displayed at the Olympic House, ahead of the Executive Board meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in Lausanne, Switzerland, December 3, 2024. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
A combination picture shows the seven candidates in the race for the IOC presidency, Kirsty Coventry, Sebastian Coe, Prince Faisal Al Hussein, Morinari Watanabe, David Lappartient, Johan Eliasch and Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. March 14, 2025. REUTERS
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Overview

  • The International Olympic Committee will elect its next president on Thursday, with seven candidates vying to succeed Thomas Bach after his 12-year tenure.
  • Frustrations over the secretive election process have grown, with candidates restricted to brief presentations and no public debates or member questioning allowed.
  • Frontrunners Kirsty Coventry, Sebastian Coe, and Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. promise differing leadership styles, with Coventry potentially becoming the first female and African IOC president.
  • The new president will face pressing challenges, including managing U.S. relations under President Trump ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games and addressing Russia's reintegration into the Olympic Movement.
  • Other key issues awaiting the next leader include establishing universal policies for transgender athletes, adapting to climate change, and ensuring financial stability amidst evolving sponsorship dynamics.