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Seven candidates contesting for the seat of the IOC president in the March 2025 elections are a lot. What does this mean? That there is a lot of uncertainty and confusion because until the last moment it was not known whether Bach would play his trump card to remain in command by modifying the Olympic Charter? Or is it normal that after the German president's 12-year uninterrupted reign, a global desire for change could have taken over, perhaps a little irrational, but understandable? It is difficult to say. Over the last thirty years, the new president has always been the heir of the previous one, but this time everything has changed.
A WOMAN Fortunately, there is female presence. Kirsty Coventry, former swimming champion from Zimbabwe, who is gaining sympathy. The Spaniard Juan Antonio Samaranch and the Jordanian Prince Faisal Al Hussein are members with great experience.
THE NEWS The absolute news is that there are four international federation presidents aspiring to the position: the British Sebastian Coe (World Athletics), the Swede with a British passport Johan Eliasch (FIS), the French David Lappartient (UCI) and the Japanese Morinari Watanabe (FIG).
ETHICS According to the code of ethics, if one of them were to be elected in the March 2025 Session in Athens, then he would have to be subjected to a vote of acceptance as an individual member and no longer ex officio as president of an international federation, which logically he would have to leave immediately. It is a somewhat cumbersome rule, the result of a sports world that always allows exceptions, pretending that it is ethically correct.
THE MOST CURIOUS The candidacy that surprises us is that of Eliasch, a multimillionaire who joined the IOC this summer and is known for having brought a flexible concept of conflict of interest to skiing, since he is the owner of a company that produces skis. We are close to the commedia dell'arte.
THE AGES The youngest is Kirsty Coventry, born in 1983, so 41 years old. Followed by Lappartient, 51 years old; Prince Faisal Al Hussein, 61 years old; Johan Eliasch, 62 years old; Morinari Watanabe, 65 years old; Juan Antonio Samaranch 65 years old and Sebastian Coe 68 years old. For now the age limit for an IOC member is 70 years old and the first term of the IOC president provides for 8 years of reign to which another 4 years can then be added. This rule, however, is under discussion.
THE SITUATION This time there will not be particular pressure groups like in the past, which clearly directed the vote, or at least it seems so. However, we must hope that the race for the presidency is clear, linear. This requires a deep commitment from all IOC members. Many are new and have little knowledge of the environment, so they have an uncertain soul, but they are called to hurry in increasing their knowledge, because it is necessary for them to make a considered choice as the sport in the years to come will have to face some storms and a firm hand will be needed to keep the great Olympic boat on the right course.
Gianni Merlo - AIPS Presiden, Untitled design
