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.