Thomas Bach steps down as IOC President, initiating elections for his successor with seven candidates, including Sebastian Coe and Kirsty Coventry. The election involves secret ballots among IOC members and will proceed through elimination rounds until a candidate secures a majority. Full voting results will be released once a president is elected.
Today marks a significant moment in the world of sports governance as Thomas Bach concludes his twelve years as the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and transitions to the role of Honorary President for Life. With the need for a new leader, seven candidates have emerged to take the helm, each with extensive candidature documents available for review on the IOC’s website, as well as succinct profiles on Insidethegames.
The candidates vying for the position include:
– HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein: A member of the Jordanian royal family and president of the Jordanian Olympic Committee.
– David Lappartient: The French president of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), overseeing world cycling.
– Johan Eliasch: A Swedish-born billionaire and president of the International Ski Federation (FIS), currently representing Great Britain.
– Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr: The Spanish son of the former IOC president, carrying on the family legacy.
– Kirsty Coventry: Notable as the only woman in the race, the Zimbabwean Olympic gold medalist serves as her country’s minister of sports.
– Sebastian Coe: The British former athlete and president of World Athletics, who has played a crucial role in Olympic organizing committees.
– Morinare Watanabe: The Japanese president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
The election process involves a secret ballot among the IOC’s 109 members, although only 106 candidates are present. Notably, candidates and their companions cannot vote unless eliminated. A candidate must secure a simple majority of votes to win. In the event no candidate achieves this, elimination rounds will continue until a majority is determined.
If there is a tie between the lowest candidates, a head-to-head vote-off will ensue, with a final decision resting in the hands of the IOC president. Full voting results will be disclosed once a new president is elected, outlining the progression of the ballots.
The IOC presidential elections represent a crucial transition in leadership, as seven distinguished candidates compete to replace Thomas Bach. The electoral process, involving secret ballots and potential elimination rounds, is designed to ensure a democratic selection. As the event unfolds, the sporting community awaits the announcement of the new president, who will guide the future of the Olympics for years to come.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
