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IOC Prepares to Elect 10th President in Historic and Competitive Election

The secret ballot later today will decide between frontrunners Samaranch Jr., Coe, and Coventry, shaping the future of the Olympic movement.

The Olympic flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26, 2024.
Algeria's Imane Khelif celebrates winning the 66kg welterweight final on August 9, 2024, in Paris.
Olympics - 144th IOC Session - Opening Ceremony - International Olympic Academy, Ancient Olympia, Greece - March 18, 2025 Dance performers are seen during the opening ceremony REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki

Overview

  • The election will take place at 2 PM GMT today in Costa Navarino, Greece, with 109 IOC members casting secret votes.
  • Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., Sebastian Coe, and Kirsty Coventry are seen as leading contenders in a race with no clear frontrunner.
  • If elected, Kirsty Coventry would make history as the first woman and African to lead the IOC, while Samaranch Jr. could follow in his father’s footsteps as president.
  • Sebastian Coe is advocating for reforms including athlete compensation and stricter gender eligibility rules, positioning him as a disruptor candidate.
  • The new president will face challenges such as selecting the 2036 Olympics host, addressing geopolitical tensions, and managing climate change impacts on the Games.