World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe is the most prominent of the seven candidates who have announced their bid to succeed Thomas Bach as President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Coe, a two-time Olympic 1500 meters champion, faces competition from notable figures including Kirsty Coventry, who aims to become the first woman and African to lead the IOC, and cycling chief David Lappartient.
Coe, who turns 68 on September 29, will contend with recent rules established by the IOC Ethics Commission, which could impact his bid. The regulations, which include a potential adjustment to the retirement age for IOC members and presidents, may pose challenges since Coe will exceed the age limit by the end of an eight-year term.
The election is scheduled to take place at the IOC Session in Athens from March 18-21 next year. Bach, who is stepping down after 12 years in office, announced his decision not to seek re-election at the end of the Paris Games.
The other candidates include Prince Faisal al-Hussein of Jordan and gymnastics leader Morinari Watanabe from Asia, a continent that has never had an IOC president. Also running are Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, whose father was IOC president from 1980-2001, and Johan Eliasch, the ski federation president.
According to the election rules, Coe, Eliasch, Lappartient, and Watanabe must resign from their current federation positions and seek re-election as individual members at the Athens Session. The candidates will present their platforms to the IOC members in January 2025 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Following the election, a transition period will occur, with the new president and their team taking over in June. This will be a change from Bach’s transition in 2013, when he succeeded Jacques Rogge.
Bach’s tenure has been marked by challenges, including the state-sponsored doping scandal that overshadowed the Sochi Winter Games in 2014 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.