The race for the top job at the International Olympic Committee has begun. Six men and one woman are running. For one of the favorites, there are several hurdles in the rules.
Seven candidates are running for the position of World Athletics Federation head Sebastian Coe to succeed Thomas Bach as President of the International Olympic Committee. In addition to the two-time Olympic champion, Prince Feisal bin al-Hussein from Jordan (60), the French World Cycling Federation head David Lappartient (51) and Juan Antonio Samaranch junior (64), son of the former IOC President from Spain, are candidates.
As the IOC announced, gymnastics boss Morinari Watanabe (65) and ski president Johan Eliasch (62) have also applied. The only woman on the list is Zimbabwe’s sports minister Kirsty Coventry (41), who won gold twice at the Olympics as a swimmer.
Shortly before the end of the Olympic Games in Paris, Bach (70) announced that he did not want to remain at the head of the IOC beyond the end of his second term. The new IOC President will be elected in Athens in mid-March 2025. His first day in office will be June 24.
IOC rules pose hurdles for Coe
Shortly before the candidates were announced, the IOC Ethics Commission, headed by former UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, reminded everyone of the rules for the presidency. These pose several hurdles for the experienced top official Coe (67). Firstly, an IOC boss must be a member of the rings circle for the entire duration of his term of office. Coe is currently a member of the rings circle through his top position in athletics, which he would have to give up in 2027 after twelve years.
In addition, the age limit for IOC members is 70 years and can only be extended once for four years. The first term of office of the IOC President is eight years. This means that several IOC rules may have to be changed to allow the 67-year-old Coe to become president.
Coe has been considered Bach’s opponent for years. Shortly after the German announced his departure, the two-time Olympic champion referred to his wealth of experience. He had been part of the Olympic movement for most of his life, was head of organization of the 2012 Summer Games in London and then president of the British Olympic Committee. Other aspects of his CV, such as his political contacts, could also be helpful in his rise to the top of the IOC, he added.
Source: Stern
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