IOC Presidential Race Heats Up: Seven Candidates Compete for the Future of the Olympic Movement

March 2025 – The election for the next President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will be held on March 20 in Athens, Greece. Seven candidates, each bringing unique regional backgrounds, professional experience, and campaign platforms, are engaged in an intense contest. Whoever emerges victorious will usher in a new chapter in the 130-year history of the Olympic Movement.

At 41, Kirsty Coventry is the only female candidate in the race and the most decorated Olympian in African history. A current IOC Executive Board member, she is running under the slogan “Breaking Barriers, Bold Decisions,” aiming to become the first woman and first African to lead the IOC in its 130-year history. Coventry emphasizes the balance of multiple roles that women fulfill—in her case, as a mother of a four-month-old daughter who has already accompanied her on international trips. A long-time advocate for gender equality, Coventry points to the gender parity achieved at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the fact that women now make up 42% of IOC members. She aspires to break the “9-to-0” historical record of male leadership and become the first woman to ascend to the IOC’s highest office.

Johan Eliasch, 63, is the current President of the International Ski Federation (FIS) and the sole candidate from a winter sport. His campaign centers on a “Net Zero Olympics,” pledging to transform the Games into a global model for sustainable development. As early as 2005, Eliasch personally purchased 400,000 acres of Amazon rainforest for conservation purposes. Under his leadership, FIS has prioritized energy efficiency and climate initiatives in winter sports. Eliasch advocates for expanding the Winter Games into South America and bringing the Summer Games to the Middle East and Africa to achieve true Olympic globalization. He stresses the need for sport to return to its roots, promoting unity and steering clear of geopolitical disputes. If elected, he promises to resign from all current positions to focus solely on IOC governance.

Morinari Watanabe, 66, President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), is the first Asian candidate in IOC presidential history. He proposes a “disruptive vision” for Olympic reform, including “joint hosting across five continents” to alleviate financial pressure on single host nations and enhance the global reach of the Games. Watanabe plans to transition the IOC into a global sports governance platform, extending its role beyond the Olympic Games. An advocate for sports diplomacy, he has visited war zones in Ukraine to promote peace through sport and plans to initiate similar dialogue in Moscow. Despite his relatively shorter tenure in sports governance, he champions technological innovation, AI-assisted officiating reforms, and support for developing nations, aiming to create a fairer and forward-looking Olympic future.

Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., 65, is the son of the late former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch and the most senior IOC member in the race. Building on his father’s reform legacy, he emphasizes economic sustainability, digital transformation, and optimized event management to reduce the burden on host countries. Samaranch played a pivotal role in the preparations for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and has twice served as IOC Vice President, accumulating over 20 years of experience within the Olympic system. With a background in finance and corporate management, he advocates for strengthening the Olympic brand through market-driven strategies. If elected, he would become part of the IOC’s first father-son presidential legacy, continuing the Samaranch family’s historic contributions to the Olympic Movement.

At 61, Prince Feisal, brother of King Abdullah II of Jordan and a former fighter pilot, brings a unique blend of leadership and sports governance. He champions the role of sport in promoting unity and peace and calls for the IOC to revive the “Olympic Truce” to foster dialogue and reconciliation in conflict zones. As founder of Generations For Peace, he has worked to heal war-torn communities through sports and the arts. Feisal also prioritizes transparency in sports governance and gender equality, particularly advocating for scientifically grounded policies regarding transgender athletes to ensure fair competition. His proposal for “regional hosting” of the Olympics aims to provide developing regions with more opportunities to host the Games, advancing a vision of broader global inclusivity in the Olympic Movement.

Sebastian Coe, 68, a legendary British Olympian, former chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, and current President of World Athletics, is widely known for his athlete-centered approach. His campaign emphasizes fairness, prize money distribution, AI integration, and anti-doping efforts. Coe asserts that reform must focus on protecting athletes’ rights and ensuring the fairness and credibility of the Olympics. His candidacy is seen as a balance between reform and stability. Calling this election “the most important race of my life,” Coe pledges to lead the IOC into a new era of transparency and efficiency.

This IOC presidential election marks the first time the candidate pool is so diverse in terms of gender, geography, and background. Regardless of who wins, the outcome will signal a new era in global sports governance. The next IOC President will be entrusted with guiding the Olympic Movement towards sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation on the world stage.