Olympics
What IOC presidential candidates promise for the future of Olympic Games – A Look at candidates’ manifestos
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has published the manifestos, opens new tab of the seven candidates to succeed Thomas Bach as president in March.
Below is a selection of some of the key manifesto points of the seven candidates:
Sebastian Coe, British, 68
Qualifications – President of World Athletics, organised and delivered 2012 London Olympics, former member of British Parliament, IOC member since 2020, double Olympic 1500 metres gold medallist.
Key quotes from the manifesto and presentation:
* The IOC is not a broken organisation but it can be so much better and it needs change. There is too much power in the hands of too few people. The decision-making processes are out of balance and the fences need to be taken down. The members are under-utilised. There is no shortage of talent and I want to take advantage of the huge bank of knowledge and experience that exists there.
* I know there is an appetite for change from the members.
* I’ve effectively been preparing for this role my whole life, which has always been dedicated to sport. I don’t know if my approach will ruffle the feathers of current senior officials but that’s not my concern. My only interest is in making the organisation better.
* The most potent social worker in all our communities is sport. We have to do more to engage with governments to know what this means – this is our core business.
* I’m very comfortable where we’ve got to in athletics on the protection of the female category. If you don’t have clear policies you end up with what happened in Paris (in boxing).
* It’s a job I know I can do, a job that massively excites me. I have experience of reforming the sport of athletics.
* It’s exciting and would be the privilege and honour of my life and I’m ready.
Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Jordanian, 61
Qualifications – President of the Jordan Olympic Committee, Chairman of Jordan Motorsport, Executive Board Member of Olympic Council of Asia, Member of the Executive Council of the Association of National Olympic Committees
IOC: Member since 2010, member of Executive Board since 2019.
* Where our Games are held also necessitates a review of when they are held. I believe our changing climate requires a review of the sporting calendar so more host cities can bid for the Olympic Games.
* We must also look at how we can maximise Olympic Games revenue share for IFs and NOCs.
* Esports: It is clear we must collude and not collide with this genre of sport. I believe that the Olympic Esports Games, like the Olympic Qualifier Series – with its focus on urban sports – are a step in the right direction.
* I intend to engage the world’s youth beyond the Olympic Games period to daily engagement throughout the whole quadrennial.
* AI: Properly harnessing AI can enhance the enjoyment of sport while levelling the playing field. As we continue to explore the IOC’s Olympic AI Agenda, we must ensure this technology is accessible to all.
* From my years in military command to my work with the National Policy Council, I have learned that effective leadership stems not from imposing ideas but from listening, building trust and drawing upon the collective wisdom of a team.
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., Spanish, 65
Qualifications – Member of the Spanish National Olympic Committee since 1989; first Vice-President of the International Modern Pentathlon Union since 1996, CEO and founding partner of GBS Finance S.A. Son of former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch, Member since 2010 and Member of the Executive Board from 2012-2016 and since 2019. IOC Vice-President from 2016-2020 and since 2022.
* Athletes are the heartbeat of the Olympic Movement, and IOC Members are its guardians and trustees. From our conversations, it is clear that Members need a stronger voice in shaping our future. We must also revisit the age limit – Extend the retirement age to 75 – to ensure we are not arbitrarily losing the benefits of experience and knowledge.
* Commission a comprehensive operational review with an experienced external resource, Olympic experts, and select IOC Members to evaluate all IOC programs for alignment with the mission, impact, and return on investment with four primary areas of focus: Streamline Processes, Modernize Technology, Optimize Resources and Measure Performance.
* Members should decide on the Host City selection and should remain flexible and open to adjusting our calendar to make hosting the Games more accessible for all regions, given our changing climate and commitment to Universality.
* Review the increasing geographical spread of Games venues. While there are valid reasons to disperse them strategically, such decisions should be based on legacy issues and operational realities, not politics.
* We should protect women in sports. The IOC has a fundamental duty to safeguard women’s sport by adopting a policy to maintain unambiguous distinctions between men’s and women’s categories. The IOC must lead on this issue by setting clear guidelines for competition.
* Continue engaging with global leaders to emphasize and uphold the importance of maintaining the Olympic Movement’s political independence.
* Conduct an immediate review of our Media agreements along with our partners to ensure that we are maximizing the reach and promotional opportunities for the Olympic brand.
* Based on my banking experience, I believe that there is potential to establish a $1 billion investment fund in which the IOC contributes specialised knowledge and insights while investors provide the necessary capital. This partnership structure would enable the IOC to participate financially with minimal risk.
Kirsty Coventry, Zimbabwe, 41
IOC member since 2013, chairperson of the Athlete Commission (2018-2021). In 2023 was re-appointed as Zimbabwe’s Minister for Sports, Art and Recreation. Seven Olympic swimming medals from five Olympics.
* My mission to drive empowerment, strengthen engagement, and ensure we remain relevant, is guided by the Ubuntu philosophy: “I am because we are.” This principle highlights the combined strength of the Olympic community and our responsibility to uplift one another.
* Harnessing the power of sport. Recognising that athletes are more than competitors, we must continue to prioritise their mental health, physical recovery, and amplify their holistic well-being throughout their athletic careers beyond
* Harness the expertise of our International Federations to enhance the impact of every event.
* The Olympic Games must lead by example in environmental responsibility, championing sustainable practices in infrastructure, logistics, and operations
* Zero tolerance for corruption, doping and unethical behaviour. I believe our Olympic Movement has a pivotal role to play in today’s world, a world increasingly divided. We have the opportunity to demonstrate the true power of sport: the resilience to rise after failure, the strength to never give up, and the importance of understanding and respect.
Johan Eliasch, Swedish-British, 62
President of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), former Special Representative of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. IOC: Member since 2024.
* In a world of high expectations and forensic scrutiny of the IOC, we must ensure our organisation is dynamic and businesslike. Successful organisations which have sustained success are built on rock-solid foundations, such as a strong focus on governance, clearly defined areas of responsibility, accountability, and authority throughout the organization, strategic thinking, with clearly articulated objectives, a culture of collaboration, creativity and innovation and succession planning. The IOC must be no different.
* In a world of fast-changing technologies, we must stay ahead of the commercial curve and get more for less. In the coming years we must strike the right balance between sponsorship goals, television rights exploitation, digital strategies and new commercialization models.
* In a world divided by politics, poverty and inequality, we must unite around our values. We must uphold the precious principle of political neutrality and we must safeguard athletes from being weaponised for political purposes.
* The IOC must lead on the issue of gender and eligibility, creating the framework for international federations. The IOC should lead the way, establishing a simple and clear policy to ensure a fair and safe environment for all athletes, particularly women.
* Would the benefits of prize money for Olympic athletes outweigh the drawbacks? Our movement is about celebrating human excellence and endurance; athletes devoting years to producing their best possible performance and receiving rewards far deeper than money: national pride, personal glory and their competitors’ respect. We must ask ourselves: is introducing prize money consistent with this spirit? And is it necessary?
* How can we make the Games more attractive to younger generations – and how can we engage them more than once every couple of years? The IOC must explore ways to boost the Olympic profile between the Games. E sports may seem distinctive in many ways from Olympic sport, but their fast-growing popularity offers a glimpse of a tantalising future in which Olympic values are leveraged to reach a larger and younger audience.
David Lappartient, French, 51
President of Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), President of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee. IOC Member since 2022.
* Commissions: I will propose a small reduction in the number of commissions and the number of Members in each commission to improve their efficiency.
* Gender parity: Women make up 41% of our membership… I propose setting a goal to achieve parity among Members no later than 2036.
* I would ask Members if they would agree to a slight increase in the number of IOC Members, which would come from the Athletes Commission and ensure that each continent is represented in order to take a more universal scope.
* Doping: We must continue to innovate in the fight against doping and marshal the necessary resources because the funds allocated to research by the WADA are not enough.
* As part of our desire to be present in every region of the world…I hope that we can organise the Olympic Games in Africa in the future.
* I believe it would also be worthwhile to better define the conditions for adding new sports to the programme of the Olympic Games (universality, quotas, Olympic revenue, etc.) and integrating new disciplines of sports already on the Olympic programme.
* Esports: We need to throw our weight behind the Olympic Esports Games and get International Federations involved whenever possible. National Olympic Committees will also play a key role in overseeing the teams defending their national colours.
* We must avoid building infrastructures in sensitive natural areas and make sure to mitigate the impact of sporting events on biodiversity.
* I also deem it important to rein IOC spending to save as many resources as possible for the implementation of our missions and substantial disbursements to Members of the Olympic Movement.
* I will table a proposal at the IOC Session to convene an Olympic Congress in accordance with Rule 4 to enrich our Agenda through a debate with all the stakeholders of sport. It would be the 14th Olympic Congress. The most recent one was held in Copenhagen in 2009.
Morinari Watanabe, Japanese, 65
IOC member since 2018, President of the International Gymnastics Federation.
* Stage the Olympic Games in five cities from the five continents, in the same period of time. – IOC and IFs can choose a city that will provide an environment with less burden on athletes. Bringing the five continents together – The Games will be broadcast and streamed 24 hours a day, which will unite the world. 10 sports per host city, 50 sports in total. – With fewer (1/3) numbers of IFs involved per each of host city… will allow the use of more existing and temporary facilities to be considered. – Discussions will also be undertaken for the Winter Olympic Games to reduce the number of sports per host city with a view to organising the Games in several host cities and countries/regions.
* As the Olympic Games expand to five continents, broadcast and streamed 24 hours a day, the reach of Worldwide Partners will increase and the broadcast and streaming time of Rightsholders will extend. I would like to discuss with the current Worldwide Partners and Rightsholders how they can further capitalize on the growing value. The IOC and the Partners/Rightsholders will build a ‘win-win’ marketing system to increase revenues.
* As IOC members are experts in different fields, a system will be created to allow IOC members to actively contribute to the world by using their respective skills and careers. For example, politicians can promote “Sport and Politics” and entertainment industry professionals can promote “Sport and Entertainment”
* Change in the term of office of the IOC President to a maximum of 12 years (from eight).
* As President of the International Gymnastics Federation, I have visited more than 160 countries. I meet with athletes, coaches and officials from different countries and ask for their opinions. I believe it’s my job to listen to everyone and make their dreams come true.
-Reuters
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will feature an increase in women’s soccer teams from 12 to 16, while the men’s competition will be downsized from 16 to a dozen teams, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.
The decision was part of several changes to the Olympic event programme, including more mixed events across various sports and all team sports featuring at least the same number of women’s and men’s teams.
The IOC said the reason for the sharp increase in women’s soccer teams was the rapidly growing popularity of women’s team sports, especially in the United States, and that change in the competition format reflected that rapid growth.
“We wanted to do something to reflect that growth and equally with the United States being the home of the highest level of popularity of women’s football,” IOC sports director Kit McConnell told a press conference.
He said the IOC had discussed the issue with both LA Games organisers and world soccer’s governing body FIFA before going through with the changes.
The total number of players — men’s and women’s — would not change.
The United States, who will also host the 2026 men’s and the 2031 women’s World Cup, have won five Olympic gold medals in the women’s competition.
The men’s teams use mostly under-23 players at Olympic Games.
The LA Games will have a total of 351 medal events in all sports, 22 more than at Paris 2024 Olympics.
Several sports, including archery, athletics, golf and gymnastics will be adding new mixed-team events, with the total number of athletes unchanged at 10,500.
The five sports proposed by the LA Games organising committee — baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash — will have an extra 698 quota places.
-Reuters
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BY JAVIER CARRO.
A young African woman. At the summit of modern Olympism, Kirsty Coventry takes on the challenge of occupying the most powerful position in the world of sport with plenty geopolitical roadblocks ahead for the newly-elected IOC president.
At 41 years old, Coventry was the winner by absolute majority after surpassing the other six candidates, which automatically makes her the tenth leader to take the reins of the International Olympic Committee in 130 years of history.
Now she has the challenge of leading the movement in an era of digital transformation, political responsibilities, and growing environmental concerns.
“A new era demands new leaders,” said the outgoing leader Thomas Bach at the beginning of the session, something that many saw as the German’s final push for his favourite candidate.
It was time for a woman, a woman who would occupy the chair once held by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games and a declared misogynist who believed that women’s only role in this arena was to crown the champions with laurel.
Coventry is congratulated by members of the IOC after being elected. GETTY IMAGES
After her victory, the Zimbabwean addressed the audience to express her gratitude: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thanks to all the candidates; this has been an incredible race, making us better and strengthening our movement. I am confident that when we unite, we can develop the ideas we share. Thank you so much for this honour.”
The current Zimbabwean Minister of Sports, an Olympic swimming champion in 2004 and 2008, Coventry ascended to the highest chair in the IOC with a discreet presence but the unstoppable momentum of a history-maker.
Not only is she the first woman to hold this position, but she is also the first African and the youngest president since Pierre de Coubertin.
With Coventry, Africa reaches the Olympic summit for the first time. Until now, all IOC leaders had been European, except for American Avery Brundage.
Bach, the German who championed gender parity at the Paris Olympics, considers his mission of equality fulfilled with her succession.
Under his tenure, the IOC Assembly increased its female membership from less than 20% to 44%, with 48 women now part of the organization.
It is widely inferred that female votes played a crucial role in Coventry’s election. Additionally, 81 members—three-quarters of the Assembly—were elected under Bach’s leadership.
“Women are ready to lead,” the new president recently stated, anticipating the moment of glory she now embraces. She remains one of the most outstanding figures in African sports history and the most decorated African Olympian, with seven medals from Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 (two gold, four silver, and one bronze). After retiring from competition, she served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sports while also chairing the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission, one of the most influential bodies within the Committee.
She parlayed those credentials into a leadership position where she will need to be adept at integrating athletes’ perspectives and strengthening inclusion within the Olympic movement. Her leadership of the Commission and her role on the Executive Board have made her a prominent figure, especially in an era where diversity and gender equality are alleged priorities.
Although she will not officially assume the presidency until June 23, when Bach steps down, Coventry will soon have to tackle major issues. These include the reintegration of Russia into the Olympic Games, the economic challenges faced by the World Anti-Doping Agency due to US budget cuts, the participation of transgender athletes in elite competitions, the loss of several major Olympic sponsors, the negotiation of broadcasting contracts, and the selection of a host city for the 2036 Games.
The most pressing challenge she faces is the controversial issue of transgender athletes being allowed to compete in elite sports. The IOC currently permits their participation, but the lack of a universal standard has sparked polarising reactions worlwide. Coventry has taken a conservative stance on this matter, seeking not to rewrite existing rules but to encourage cooperation among federations to establish a common framework.
“I do not support transgender athletes competing in the Olympics against female athletes, as it is unfair to them. Ensuring fairness in women’s sports is essential,” she stated firmly, as she believes that “trans women have an inherent physical advantage in female categories, which potentially reduces equitable opportunities for biological women.”
Similarly, Coventry has promised a strong stance on addressing gender inequality in leadership roles, arguing that women should not be an exception in the sports world. While progress has been made toward gender equality, she acknowledges that there is still much work to be done. “At Paris 2024, we achieved gender parity in competition, but in federations and national committees, the gap remains significant,” she warned. “It is not just about increasing the number of women in sports but ensuring they have a voice and a vote in key positions. Female leadership should not be the exception but the norm within sports organisations,” Coventry added.
Another major issue Coventry will need to address is the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has left Russian and Belarusian athletes in a competitive limbo for several years.
She will have to navigate the delicate matter of Russia’s return to the Olympic stage. Since the country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the IOC banned the Russian Olympic Committee, allowing only a select group of athletes to compete as neutrals in Paris 2024.
However, full reintegration remains a contentious issue, requiring a balance between diplomacy and sporting integrity.
Whether Russia can return in time for Milano Cortina 2026 is likely to be one of the defining topics of her presidency once she officially takes office in three months.
Coventry’s position on these matters remains somewhat ambiguous. In recent statements, she said, “Our duty as the IOC is to ensure that all athletes can participate in the Games. This is not just about the major wars and conflicts in Europe and the Middle East; there are also wars and conflicts in Africa.
“ If I am elected President of the IOC, I will establish a task force to develop guidelines to help us manage these periods of conflict, prioritising athletes’ interests.”
On the positive side, the new IOC boss will inherit an organisation in a robust financial position; therefore, billions seem secured in media rights and sponsorship deals.
Bach’s departure comes at a time when it guaranteed $7.3 billion (€6.7bn) in revenue from broadcasting, partnerships, and other sources for the 2025–28 cycle, along with $6.2 billion (€5.7bn) already locked in for 2029–32.
Last week, the IOC also announced a $3 billion (€2.7bn) extension of its Olympic media rights agreement with NBCUniversal in the United States until 2036.
However, the recent departure of several sponsors, such as Japanese giants Toyota and Panasonic, has fuelled calls for changes to its commercial structure.
Yet, financial stability does not guarantee smooth sailing in a landscape where sport is increasingly shaped by politics, technology, and shifting social expectations.
To balance financial growth with the fundamental values of the Olympic movement, Coventry believes that “it is about finding ways to ensure that, above all, we take care of our stakeholders to deliver incredible multi-sport events at the highest level.
“Yes, this requires more money, and we must find ways to make it sustainable. For example, when engaging with host cities, we are adapting the model to what they already have.
“We no longer demand the construction of new venues because that is no longer viable. This shift helps increase revenue while controlling.”
Coventry joined the Olympic assembly 12 years ago as an athletes’ representative and was later renewed as a permanent member.
Since then, Bach has kept her by his side, granting her positions of increasing responsibility.
She currently chairs the coordination commissions for the Dakar 2026 Youth Games and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, among other roles she will have to relinquish upon assuming the presidency.
Her ascent to the Olympic throne breaks the glass ceiling of the IOC and marks the beginning of a new era in the sporting world.
“I will make you feel proud and confident in the decision you have made today,” proclaimed Coventry after her landslide victory
-Inside The Games
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History has been made at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry becomes the president as the first woman and African to do so.
Two decades after winning her first Olympic gold in Greece, Kirsty Coventry was victorious again in the Mediterranean country as she was elected as the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) first female president on March 20.
The 41-year-old Zimbabwean, a former swimmer who won the women’s 200m backstroke at Athens 2004 before retaining it at Beijing 2008, also becomes the IOC’s first African president.
Coventry, who also has four Olympic silvers and a bronze, will serve an eight-year term, with the possibility of a four-year extension.
“This is an extraordinary moment. As a nine-year-old girl I never thought that I would stand up here one day, getting to give back to this incredible movement of ours,” Coventry said.
“This is not just a huge honour but it is a reminder to every single one of you that I will lead this organisation with so much pride, with the values at the core and I will make all of you very, very proud and, I hope, extremely confident in the decision you’ve taken today.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Coventry succeeds 71-year-old German Thomas Bach, who steps down after a 12-year reign and has been named honorary president.
Strongly believed to be Bach’s favoured candidate, Coventry was thought to be in a tight-run race with IOC veteran Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr of Spain and World Athletics’ British chief Sebastian Coe.
However, to general surprise, the most powerful job in world sport reached its conclusion after just one round of voting at a luxury seaside resort in Greece’s south-western Peloponnese, with a majority of the IOC members placing their faith in Coventry to meet the serious challenges that lie ahead.
She secured 49 votes, the majority required from the 97 possible votes, with zero abstentions.
Samaranch Jr and Coe had 28 and eight votes respectively, while Frenchman David Lappartient (four), Japan’s Morinari Watanabe (four), Jordan’s Prince Feisal Al-Hussein (two) and Swedish-born Johan Eliasch (two) completed the field.
-Reuters/Xinhua
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