THE IOC ELECTS ITS NEW PRESIDENT IN THE MOST CLOSE OLYMPIC VOTE IN RECENT YEARS

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After 12 years governed by the German, Thomas Bach, this Thursday is the International Olympic Committee elects its new head. Seven candidates are fighting to reach the seat in Lausanne. In addition to the president, 2 new members of the Executive Committee will be elected, and it is precisely here where the president of Panam Sports, Neven Ilic, is in the race.

We present here the 7 candidates for the IOC Presidency.

Costa Navarino, located in the southeast of Greece, will be the focus of the Olympic world’s attention in the coming days. This Thursday, March 20, the election of the President of the Organization will take place, after 12 years of mandate of Olympic champion Thomas Bach.

Seven candidates will fight for the IOC presidency. Six men and only one woman. For many, this election is undoubtedly the closest in the history of Olympism. That is why the eyes of the world will be on Greece.

In Panam Sports, we show you each of the candidates to lead the Olympic movement in the coming years.

• Kirsty Coventry:

Former swimmer, winner of 7 Olympic medals at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games : 2 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze. Since 2018, she is Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation of Zimbabwe. Should she win, she would be the first woman in history, to take over as President of the IOC. Her closeness to current President Thomas Bach has made her one of the favorites in this election. She currently heads the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games Commission.

Country: Zimbabwe
Age: 41 years old
IOC Member: Since 2021

• Juan Antonio Samaranch

Son of the former president of the IOC who governed between 1980 and 2001. He is currently vice-president of the organization and among his recognized leadership career stands out having been part of the Organizing Committees of the Olympic Games of Turin 2006 and Sochi 2014 and Beijing 2022. Together with Coventry and Coe, Juan Antonio Samaranch is one of the favorites to win the election.

Country: Spain
Age: 65 years old
IOC Member: Since 2001

• Joham Eliasch

The current President of the International Ski Federation (FIS), in addition to his leadership career, is a banker, film producer and treasurer of the British Conservative Party. He is known for being a fervent defender of the environment.

Country: Sweden
Age: 63 years old
IOC Member: Since 2001

• Príncipe Feisal Al Hussein

The brother of the current King of Jordan, Abdullah II, has been President of the Jordan Olympic Committee since 2003. “All the previous presidents were Europeans or from the United States. We need people who are able to understand the world and build a bridge between East and West, South and North,” he has said repeatedly in his campaign.

Country: Jordan
Age: 61 years old
IOC Member: Since 2010

• David Lappartient

He is the youngest of the men running for the IOC seat. President since 2017 of the International Cycling Union (UCI) where he has done a great job establishing an Agenda 2030, with equality and sustainability as its main pillars. Among his ideas that he has transmitted in his campaign, is to give Africa the option to organize an Olympic Games.

Country: France
Age: 51 years old
IOC Member: Since 2001

• Morinari Watanabe

He is the current President of the International Gymnastics Federation. He was part of the Executive Committee of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Among his ideas presented in his campaign, is to have Olympic Games in 5 cities, one for each continent.

Country: Japan
Age: 66 years old
IOC Member: Since 2018

• Sebastian Coe

Former Olympian. Winner of two gold medals in the Olympic Games of Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984 in the 1500 meters. In 2012 he fulfilled an outstanding participation as President of the Organizing Committee of the London Olympic Games. Since 2015, he is the President of World Athletics, where he has stood out as a great leader and promoter of innovative measures that have helped the growth of athletics in the world.

Country: Great Britain
Age: 68 years old
IOC Member: Since 2020

In total there are 109 IOC members, of which 100 are expected to vote this Thursday. That is to say, with 51 votes, the candidates could become the new IOC president.

The winner must obtain an absolute majority. Several rounds are possible. In each of them, whoever has less votes is eliminated, until 50% + 1 of the election is reached.

It should be noted that candidates may vote, but no IOC member who is a compatriot of theirs may vote.

Not only the IOC President is elected, but also Vice-Presidents and 2 members for the Executive Committee. In the latter, there are three candidates, among them the President of Panam Sports, the Chilean Neven Ilic.