May Zhao in Conversation with Prince Feisal IOC Presidential Frontrunner Responds to the Call for Non Olympic Sports

As Thomas Bach steps down tomorrow on the 20th, the next President of the International Olympic Committee is about to be revealed. On the eve of this historic announcement, we conducted exclusive remote interviews with all seven candidates vying for the IOC presidency.

During my conversation with His Royal Highness Prince Feisal Al Hussein, I was struck by the contrast in the scene: on the wall behind him hung a dignified portrait of his elder brother, King Abdullah II of Jordan. In front of it sat Prince Feisal himself, smiling warmly and exuding a gentle, approachable charm. His kindness and sincerity made me reflect on the word “Prince”—a title that, in different cultural contexts, can imply a “Qin Wang,” or in this case, a “kind-hearted prince.” It perfectly aligns with the vision he advocates in his campaign: using sport to promote unity and peace, and leading the Olympic Movement toward a fairer and more inclusive future.

Yet, as I sat across from this gracious royal figure, one sharp question kept lingering in my mind. Perhaps it was his royal lineage and far-reaching influence that gave me the sense he might hold the key to resolving a long-standing dilemma. Unable to hold back, I posed a question that has long troubled me as a journalist covering international sport.

May Zhao:

While the Olympics feature a wide range of sports, many disciplines have been striving for decades to gain inclusion—yet they still stand outside the Olympic family. Darts, snooker, nine-ball, and in fact all cue sports remain absent, as do sports like wushu and tai chi. I once interviewed the president of a world championship federation who has dedicated over twenty years of his life to achieving Olympic recognition for his sport—still considering it his ultimate dream. If elected IOC President, how would you address these challenges? How would you ensure diversity and inclusion within the Olympic Games, balancing the legacy of traditional events with the aspirations of non-Olympic sports?

HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein:

That’s a very good question. The greatest challenge we currently face is the limit on the number of athletes and events. To add new sports, we would have to remove existing ones—a decision that is always difficult and often controversial.

The IOC does have an evaluation process in place, but it’s not easy to implement. In Asia, we have platforms such as the Indoor Games and the Martial Arts Games, where sports like cue sports, snooker, and esports have already found a place to showcase their athletes and competitions.

While this is not an ideal solution, the sustainability of the Olympic Games must be our priority. If we were to open the Games to every international sports federation, we could be facing 30,000 to 40,000 athletes, massively increasing hosting costs and jeopardizing the feasibility of the event.

We do want to include more sports, but the reality is the Games must be completed within 16 days. Strict control over the scale and costs is essential. Striking a balance between tradition and innovation—and ensuring the Games remain both inclusive and sustainable—will be one of the IOC’s key challenges going forward.