The big game is starting again in world sport. The list of candidates for the post of head of the International Olympic Committee is known. Seven people have officially expressed their desire to lead the organization. By January 2025, they will have to prepare their election programs. Then the list of applicants will be significantly reduced. The entire process will take place behind closed doors.
Well, now it is interesting to understand what kind of people they are and what Russian athletes should expect from them.
Sebastian Coe
Perhaps one of Russia’s main enemies is the current head of the International Association of Athletics Federations (World Athletics). Under the light hand of Sebastian Coe, Russian athletics has found itself in a bathhouse for the seventh year in a row.
Sebastian Coe
Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
And it was he who did not give our athletes a single chance to get to the 2024 Olympics, while the leaders of some other federations left the Russians at least a ghostly chance of getting to Paris.
Let’s be honest. Coe has the chance to become the new head of the IOC. It bans Russia from participating in sports, which means his candidacy fits perfectly into the agenda.
Sebastian Coe has problems ahead of the elections:
Sebastian Coe will not be allowed to run for IOC president
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr.
Juan Antonio Samaranch decided to follow in his father’s footsteps. Samaranch Sr. led the Olympic movement for 21 years. He went down in history as the person who managed to make the IOC a profitable organization. Under his leadership, the number of participating countries only increased. People spoke warmly about the politician and businessman from the USSR.
His son is already 64 years old, but this will not be an obstacle to his election.
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr.
Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images
Samaranch Jr. is an IOC vice president, first vice president of the International Federation of Modern Pentathlon. He has not spoken publicly about Russia in a negative way, which makes him not as scary for our sport as Sebastian Coe.
David Lapartian
Another candidate was the president of the International Cycling Union (UCI), David Lapartian.
David Lapartian
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
The Frenchman is 51 years old and has been a member of the IOC since 2022. Before that, he was the head of a commune in northwestern France and was president of the European Cycling Union. But he has been the leader of world cycling since 2017.
Vyacheslav Ekimov spoke positively about his candidacy for Russia. The head of the Russian cyclists in an interview with TASS said that Lapartian is one of the most worthy candidates for this post. It is he who allows Russians to participate in international competitions, at least in a neutral regime.
The new IOC chief will have to think seriously about the future of the organisation:
The Olympic Games urgently need reform. Which sports are long overdue for abolition?
Kirsty Coventry
The only woman among the candidates was Kirsty Coventry. The former Zimbabwean swimmer and politician is 41 years old.
Kirsty Coventry
Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
She has two Olympic gold medals in Athens and seven world championship victories. Kirsty is currently the president of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. This means that she is the voice of those who hold the future of world sport. She did not speak negatively about Russia.
Morinari Watanabe
The Japanese sports official also decided to compete for the top post at the IOC. Watanabe is the head of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). And in 2022 he advised everyone to listen to the opinions of Russian and Belarusian gymnasts.
Morinari Watanabe
Photo: Tom Dulat/Getty Images
Morinari is unlikely to have much chance of becoming IOC chief, but there are already voices in his favour in the Russian gymnastics camp.
Poland wants to host the Olympic Games:
Poland wants to take over the Olympics. Is this empty bravado or a real plan?
johan elias
Another candidate is the president of the International Ski Federation (FIS), Johan Elías.
Bolshunov and the other Russian skiers could have been given the green light to compete in international competitions a long time ago. But for some reason this has not happened yet. And when the Swedish billionaire was asked about admitting Russians, he replied about the importance of respecting human rights.
johan elias
Photo: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
As IOC president, he is unlikely to be any kinder to our athletes. However, it seems he has little chance of winning.
Faisal Al Hussein
The least famous of the candidates is the prince and head of the Jordanian Olympic Committee, Faisal Al-Hussein. He has been in this position for 21 years, which speaks to the stability and importance of the person in the country’s sport.
Faisal Al Hussein
Photo: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images
It is difficult to talk about his attitude towards Russia. However, the Middle Eastern official did not seem to make any negative statements about our athletes.
The IOC President elections will be held in March 2025. Who knows, maybe next spring will become a symbol of new life for Russian sport.
Or everything will be exactly the opposite.
If the poll does not open for you, you can vote using the link.
