The race to succeed Thomas Bach as president of the Worldwide Olympic Committee reaches a climax on Thursday with Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, Sebastian Coe and Kirsty Coventry believed to be neck and neck however away from the remaining quartet.
Any of these three can be an historic winner within the election on the unique Greek resort of Costa Navarino.
Samaranch would emulate his father of the identical identify and turn out to be the primary father and son to be topped president, World Athletics president Coe can be the primary Briton and Zimbabwean Coventry the youngest at 41, and each the primary lady and African.
However the voters of 100-plus IOC members is difficult to learn and surprises can’t be dominated out within the battle to turn out to be essentially the most highly effective determine in sport.
Ski federation chief Johan Eliasch, Morinari Watanabe, president of the worldwide gymnastics federation, biking head David Lappartient and Prince Feisal al-Hussein make up the heavyweight area.
The vote takes place behind closed doorways and simply as within the award-winning movie “Conclave” about cardinals selecting a brand new pope, all of the IOC members will likely be obliged to go away their telephones outdoors the room.
The candidates’ nerves will likely be jangling as they sit via a session of IOC enterprise earlier than the vote will get underway at 1400 GMT.
The winner would be the first to acquire an absolute majority.
Simply how highly effective the publish is was illustrated when Bach was elected in 2013 and his first interview was interrupted by a congratulatory telephone name from Russian President Vladimir Putin, because the Black Sea resort of Sochi was internet hosting the Winter Video games the next 12 months.
Whoever wins will take over a financially safe IOC, however these calm waters are muddied by a febrile geopolitical state of affairs.
The brand new chief must take care of US President Donald Trump as Los Angeles hosts the following Summer season Olympics in 2028.
Samaranch argues that on this “very advanced world”, the place beforehand undisputed truths akin to “universality, fraternity and unity” at the moment are questioned, it’s no time to take a leap in the dead of night.
The 65-year-old Spaniard, an assured and polished performer with over 20 years as an IOC member, argues he would offer the regular hand on the tiller that’s required.
“It’s not in regards to the face or the gender, or the continent,” he informed AFP.
“Even within the best of occasions, we must always elect the perfect individual for the job.
“That is too essential and too related for too many individuals to experiment.”
Samaranch Junior would take over an IOC radically totally different to the one his father did in 1980 after which ran for over 20 years, successfully saving it with a radical transformation of its funds.
Samaranch, although, whereas praising his father for overseeing the saving of “Olympism”, insists his period will not be “remotely related at this time.”
Coe seems to be seen by Bach because the disruptor candidate, which is maybe stunning given many would view him as an institution determine.
Whereas Samaranch Junior brings a relaxed urbanity, two-time Olympic 1,500 metres champion Coe oozes charisma.
Coe, 68, additionally boasts a powerful CV. A former lawmaker for the centre-right Conservatives, he led London’s profitable bid to host the 2012 Video games, stunning long-time front-runners Paris.
He then oversaw the highly-praised internet hosting of the Video games and has been credited with reforming observe and area’s world physique since turning into president in 2015.
Coe argues the IOC must do extra “to create true and real business companions out of our athletes.”
If he’s to get his want, he could have achieved so in opposition to the percentages as Bach has reportedly been phoning members urging them to not vote for him.
If Samaranch Junior and Coe lose, it’s the finish of their hopes to be president owing to their age, however time is on Coventry’s facet.
The seven-time Olympic swimming medallist is extensively seen as being Bach’s most well-liked candidate, one thing she denies.
Though Bach refused to be drawn on this on Monday, saying solely {that a} new period “requires new leaders”, a significantly sick IOC member has flown in to vote for Coventry.
Coventry says if she is elected it might be an enormous second for Africa as it might present “we’re prepared to guide”.
If any of the candidates really feel assured of votes within the bag, Samaranch’s phrases will disabuse them of that notion.
“It’s totally simple on this world, so shut a race, to confuse a smile for a vote, a friendship for a vote, a pleasant phrase for a vote,” he mentioned on Wednesday.
AFP
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