Morinari Watanabe: Can He Overcome Doubts to Become the IOC’s First Asian President and Reshape the Olympic Landscape?

At 66 years old, Morinari Watanabe, the current President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), is the most controversial candidate in the race for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidency. He is not only the first Japanese candidate to run for this position, but if elected, he would become the first Asian president in IOC history. This groundbreaking possibility has drawn significant attention to his campaign.

At a time of global tension, Watanabe has chosen to take a bold stance. He personally traveled to war-torn Kyiv, Ukraine, to show solidarity with Ukrainian gymnasts, emphasizing that sports must contribute to peace—a belief he now holds stronger than ever.

He even plans to visit Moscow, advocating for sports as a bridge for dialogue in international affairs. Drawing inspiration from the 1971 Ping Pong Diplomacy between the United States and China, he underscores the unique reconciliation power of sports in times of geopolitical strain.

One of Watanabe’s most disruptive proposals is the “Five-Continent Olympics” concept. He envisions future Olympic Games being co-hosted by five cities across five continents, aiming to ease the financial burden on host nations while expanding the Games’ global reach.

Beyond this, he seeks to transform the IOC into a “World Sports Organization”, extending its role beyond the Olympics to become a leading platform for global sports governance. He also advocates for AI-driven officiating and promises to allocate more resources to support sports development in emerging nations.

However, compared to other candidates, Watanabe’s background is unconventional. Unlike those from Olympic cornerstone sports like athletics or swimming, he comes from the gymnastics world. His tenure in sports administration has been relatively short, having previously worked in the sports division of a retail corporation. His foundation within international sports governance circles is not as deep-rooted as that of his rivals.

This makes his candidacy a challenging uphill battle. While his reform ideas are bold and innovative, both Japanese and international sports media remain skeptical about his chances. He also lacks the traditional support networks and resources available to other contenders.

Yet, this very outsider status could be his unique strength. If elected, Watanabe would not only be the first IOC president from gymnastics but also the first Asian president, breaking over a century of Western leadership in the Olympic movement. His vision spans Olympic model reform, sports diplomacy, and the integration of technology in sports.

On March 20, the IOC presidential election will take place in Greece. Can Morinari Watanabe’s bold and unconventional reform agenda bring new possibilities to the Olympics and carve a new path for Asia in global sports governance? The answer will soon be revealed…