Lord Sebastian Coe has officially announced his candidacy for the position of president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The British former middle-distance runner will be competing against several notable candidates, including the son of a former IOC president, a champion swimmer, and a Jordanian prince.
The upcoming IOC president will lead the organization following the successful Paris Games, which drew record audiences and revitalized interest in the Olympics after two editions were held under stringent Covid-19 restrictions. The governing body of the Olympics also faces the ongoing challenge of engaging younger audiences and increasing sponsorship in a competitive sports landscape.
The shortlist of seven candidates vying to succeed outgoing president Thomas Bach in the spring includes Juan Antonio Samaranch of Spain. His father, also named Juan Antonio Samaranch, served as IOC president for over two decades. The younger Samaranch, 64, has been an IOC member since 2001 and has a finance background.
Kirsty Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer and the current sports minister for Zimbabwe, is also considered a strong contender. At 41 years old, she would potentially be the first woman to lead the IOC. Coventry won a gold medal in the 200-metre backstroke at the 2004 Athens Games and is the youngest candidate.
Coe’s candidacy may face complications due to the IOC’s age restrictions. The former British MP, who chaired the London 2012 Olympics, turns 68 this month, making him the oldest candidate. IOC rules impose an age limit of 70, though extensions of up to four years can be requested. Coe is also expected to step down from his position as president of World Athletics in 2027, which would end his IOC membership. IOC presidential terms last eight years, with an option for an additional four years.
Coe, an Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500 metres at the 1980 and 1984 Games, has faced criticism recently after World Athletics decided to offer prize money to Olympic champions, breaking with tradition.
Alongside Coe, three other candidates head major global sporting organizations: David Lappartient, president of the International Cycling Union; Morinari Watanabe, president of the International Gymnastics Federation; and Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski Federation, who only became an IOC member last month. Jordanian Prince Feisal al-Hussein, brother of King Abdullah, also completes the shortlist. The candidates will present their manifestos to IOC members at the headquarters in Lausanne in January before the vote in Greece in March.
Under Bach’s leadership, the IOC has navigated significant geopolitical challenges, particularly in light of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The IOC chose not to impose a blanket ban on Russian athletes in Paris, leaving the decision to individual sports federations.
Additionally, like many major sporting organizations, the IOC is addressing the rapidly evolving media and entertainment sector. Ensuring the Olympics remain relevant to younger audiences and retaining global sponsors will be among the top priorities for the next president.
Some IOC members had urged Bach to extend his presidency beyond the expiration of his term next year, which would necessitate amending the IOC’s rule book. However, the 70-year-old former Olympic fencing champion confirmed shortly after the Paris Games concluded in August that he would step down as scheduled.
