The IOC Presidency: A Contest Among Samaranch, Coe, and Coventry

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will elect its new president this Thursday, with Juan Antonio Samaranch, Sebastian Coe, and Kirsty Coventry as the frontrunners. There are seven candidates in total, but the successor to Thomas Bach, who has led the organisation since 2013 and will pass the baton to the new 'lord of the rings' in June, is expected to emerge from the trio of the Spanish, the British, and the Zimbabwean candidates.

Samaranch, son of the former IOC president for 21 years, Coe, the head of World Athletics, and Coventry, a former swimmer aiming to be the first woman to lead the Olympic movement, are competing for the presidency at the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece.

Other candidates include Jordanian Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Frenchman David Lappartient, Japanese Morinari Watanabe, and Swedish-British Johan Eliasch. However, the 109 voting members, excluding those sharing nationality with any of the candidates, are expected to choose between Samaranch Jr., Lord Coe, or Zimbabwe's Minister of Sports, Coventry. Backed by Thomas Bach, Coventry represents both continuity and change in favour of women.

The tenth IOC president will serve for the next eight years, with a possible extension of four more. Challenges include financial stability, the dispute with Donald Trump over Los Angeles hosting the 2028 Games, the potential reinstatement of Russia, and the final decision on transgender athletes. All candidates, citing scientific studies, oppose allowing policies that could disadvantage women in competitions. The least voted candidate will be eliminated in each round, and the winner will be the one who secures an absolute majority. Bach will not participate in these unpredictable elections, although he holds a tie-breaking vote.

- Juan Antonio Samaranch (65 years old). IOC Vice President. His strengths are experience and connections within the IOC, where he has been since 2001, the year his father stepped down. Despite praise for his management skills, his past is a liability. Feared by Britain, he has been recently criticised by The Times for his ties with China and his father's connections with Franco. "Can the son of a fascist be IOC president?" the British press has provocatively asked, naturally supporting Coe.

- Sebastian Coe (68 years old). President of World Athletics. A legendary athlete, he has been a parliamentarian and the head of the London 2012 Olympic Games organising committee. He boasts extensive experience, having held almost every position except IOC president. In the IOC since 2020, he is backed by the Anglo-Saxon world. However, he has alienated federations by acting independently as the head of the Olympics' premier sport and for awarding cash prizes to champion athletes at the recent Paris Games.

- Kirsty Coventry (41 years old). Zimbabwe's Minister of Sports and Youth. Votes not going to Seb Coe may ultimately favour the two-time Olympic swimming champion (Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008). She has chaired the athletes' commission, which includes Pau Gasol. Her advantages include being a woman, African, and endorsed by Bach to continue his legacy. If victorious, she would become the first woman to lead the IOC in its 131-year history, as the most decorated athlete from her continent, with seven Olympic medals.

- Feisal Al Hussein (61 years old). Jordanian Prince. Joined the IOC in 2010 and has been part of the Executive Board since 2019. He has a military background and is the brother of King Abdullah II of Jordan. As an athlete, he was a motor racing driver and also practised wrestling.

- David Lappartient (51 years old). President of the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the French Olympic Committee. Lacks experience. He joined the IOC only three years ago and has recently enjoyed the success of the Paris 2024 Games.

- Morinari Watanabe (66 years old). President of the International Gymnastics Federation. In the IOC since 2018, he is supported by Asia, which has hosted two of the last five Summer Games (Beijing 2008 and Tokyo 2021) and the last two Winter Games: Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022.

- Johan Eliasch (63 years old). President of the International Ski Federation. Born in Sweden and holding British nationality, he joined the IOC recently in 2024, making him relatively unknown among IOC members.