De nieuwe voorzitter van het IOC krijgt meteen Poetin én Trump voor de kiezen. Wie wordt het? | De Morgen

Key Challenges Facing the New IOC President

The new IOC president will inherit several significant challenges, including ensuring the financial and environmental sustainability of the Olympic Games, maintaining their relevance to younger generations, and navigating complex geopolitical issues.

• Sustainability: The increasing costs of hosting the Games are deterring potential cities, and there are growing calls for greater environmental responsibility.
• Geopolitical Conflicts: The new president must address political interference and find ways to bring together countries with conflicting interests.
• Transgender Athletes: The issue of transgender athletes' participation remains contentious, with differing opinions on how to fairly balance inclusion and competition.
• Russia's Role: The ongoing debate about Russian participation in future Olympic Games, following the invasion of Ukraine, is another major challenge.

The Candidates

Three leading candidates stand out: Sebastian Coe, Kirsty Coventry, and Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. Each candidate brings a unique set of experiences and perspectives.

• Sebastian Coe: A former Olympic champion and current head of World Athletics, known for his clear stance on Russian participation and gender issues in sports. However, his decision to offer prize money for athletes in Paris attracted criticism.
• Kirsty Coventry: A former Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe, and Bach's favored candidate, highlighting her desire for continuity, but facing scrutiny due to her political affiliations in Zimbabwe.
• Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr.: Son of a former IOC president, he seeks to leverage his extensive experience and connections within the organization, particularly in China, but has faced criticism regarding environmental concerns in connection with the Beijing Winter Olympics.

The election will take place on Thursday, with 109 IOC members eligible to vote, choosing the successor to Thomas Bach.