Seven applicants in the race: IOC before the election: Who will be Thomas Bach’s successor?

The choice of Thomas Bach’s heir rises right next to the glittering pool system. In a Greek noble resort with a view of golf courses and the Mediterranean, seven applicants have hopes for the office of IOC president. Until the vote on Thursday afternoon, they have time to convince the members of the International Olympic Committee behind the scenes of the 144th General Assembly. “It is too tight to predict something,” said Prince Feisal al-Hussein, who is more considered an outsider in the illustrious group of candidates.

For the outgoing stream, the choice of his successor is nothing less than “an expression of our trust in the future”. Some observers remind the circumstances of the Catholic Church, which is more of a hot -secreted conclave in the pope election. The more than 100 IOC members join for the duration of the vote, must hand over their cell phones and all electronic devices.

Only when one of the candidates is elected by an absolute majority will the doors of the hall open again and Bach announces the name of the tenth IOC president. Strict conditions were already valid for the campaign phase. At the end of January, the applicants were only allowed a 15-minute presentation of their plans to the IOC members, and inquiries were not permitted.

Co -favorite Coe stands for radical change

“Is that the best way to choose our new leader? No,” said Fitfeforit Sebastian Coe before the election day in Greece and wished “more access, more openness”. The British Lord is the candidate anyway, who would probably organize the clearest break with Thomas Bach’s politics.

But is the more conservative circle of IOC members really ready for a radical change? “I hope that the IOC members will now follow the one who had been done. And I always delivered when I have tackled something,” Coe recently told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.

The two-time 1500-meter Olympic champion has taken a long start on the IOC throne. He was a member of a parliament, London procured the summer games in 2012 and is currently leading the world association of athletics. At 68, he approaches the IOC age limit and requires a change in the rules in order to be able to complete a first term of eight years.

Is the IOC ready for the first woman at the top?

While Coe wants to score with his rich experience and prominence, Kirsty Coventry offers the IOC the chance of a historical step. As the first woman and first representative from Africa, the 41-year-old from Zimbabwe could move to the top of the Olympic umbrella organization. “Women are ready. I see this as an opportunity to tear down barriers,” said the swimming Olympic champion.

The question is whether the IOC members Coventry trust in a highly sensitive phase to lead the Olympic movement into a safe future. As a sports minister in Zimbabwe, the former top athlete is controversial, as a member of the IOC Executive, she has hardly been able to profile herself.

Internally, however, she is considered a desired candidate of Bach, whose line she would continue to continue quite seamlessly. “We are different people with different styles,” said Coventry recently and assured that Bach had behaved equally fairly for all seven candidates.

Samaranch father stands for the dark era of the IOC

For IOC members who do not yet trust Coventry and shy away from the job and shy away from the Coes of Reform Plans, Juan Antonio Samaranch jr. be the appropriate compromise candidate. The 65-year-old Spaniard has deep insights into the mechanisms of the rings circle as the son of a former IOC president and is well networked. “I want to show that I can lead the IOC with a modern vision that fits today without having to be measured by my father’s legacy,” said the financial specialist.

The senior had run the IOC from 1980 to 2001 and commercialized the Olympic Games. At the same time, Samaranch, once funded by dictator Francisco Franco, stood for a scandals for corruption and the favorite economy of the rings organization. Samaranch jr. It is rather cloudy to know that it was just a different time.

The other four candidates for the IOC top position are considered clear outsiders. Rad-World Association chief David Lappartient recently put a steep career, but is probably still too fresh in the IOC. Johan Eliasch is controversial as President of the World Ski Association, Prince Feisal al-Hussein from Jordan looks rather colorless. Morinari Watanabe, which leads the gymnastics association, is likely to have no chance with radical ideas such as the Olympic Games, which will be played at five continents at the same time.