The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: March 20, 2025
Today: March 20, 2025

Olympics-IOC session opens in ancient Olympia as presidential election looms

144th IOC Session
March 18, 2025
Louisa Gouliamaki - Reuters

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee kicked of its session in Olympia, site of the ancient Games, on Tuesday that will culminate with the election of a new president on Thursday.

Outgoing President Thomas Bach, in his speech at the Olympic academy near the ancient stadium, made only a fleeting reference to Thursday's key vote where seven candidates will take a shot at world sport's most powerful and influential job.

The IOC is the world's wealthiest multi-sports organisation with revenues of about $7 billion per four-year cycle.

Olympics-IOC session opens in ancient Olympia as presidential election looms
144th IOC Session

"This is a exactly what this session is about. A sacred pilgrimage to our ancient past," Bach told an audience that included IOC members and Greece's President Konstatinos Tasoulas.

"An homage to our modern origins and to our founder. And a manifestation of our faith in the future, when we will elect a new president," said Bach, who is stepping down in June after 12 years in charge.

The candidates are international cycling chief David Lappartient, current IOC vice-president Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe, multiple Olympic swimming champion Kirsty Coventry, who is Zimbabwe's sports minister, and Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan.

International Gymnastics Federation head Morinari Watanabe and Olympic newcomer and multimillionaire Johan Eliasch, who heads the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, complete the list of candidates.

Olympics-IOC session opens in ancient Olympia as presidential election looms
144th IOC Session

While there is no clear front-runner, as was the case in 2013 when then-favourite Bach swept to victory, Coe, Samaranch and Coventry, long seen as Bach's preferred choice, are considered to have an edge over the other candidates.

Just over 100 IOC members, including federation chiefs, national Olympic committee presidents, royalty and billionaires among others, will cast their votes on Thursday.

The new president is elected on an eight-year term with the possibility of re-election to a second four-year term for a maximum of 12 years in total.

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Share This

Popular

Europe|Political|US|World

Zelensky agrees to pause attacks on energy in call with Trump, but questions remain about what Trump and Putin hammered out

Zelensky agrees to pause attacks on energy in call with Trump, but questions remain about what Trump and Putin hammered out
Europe|Political|US|World

Zelenskiy says energy strike ceasefire could be established quickly

Zelenskiy says energy strike ceasefire could be established quickly
Europe|MidEast|Political|US|World

Zelenskiy says he had substantive call with Trump discussing partial ceasefire, air defences

Zelenskiy says he had substantive call with Trump discussing partial ceasefire, air defences
Crime|Europe|Political|US|World

State Dept denies deleting data on halted program tracking abducted Ukrainian children

State Dept denies deleting data on halted program tracking abducted Ukrainian children

Political

Education|Political|US

Trump to order a plan to shut down the US Education Department

Trump to order a plan to shut down the US Education Department
Business|Environment|Political|US

Greenpeace must pay pipeline company nearly $667 million over Standing Rock protests, jury says

Greenpeace must pay pipeline company nearly $667 million over Standing Rock protests, jury says
Business|Political|US

Member of Elon Musk's DOGE takes up senior post at USAID, email says

Member of Elon Musk's DOGE takes up senior post at USAID, email says
Business|Economy|Finance|Political|US

Tariffs to delay inflation progress, too soon to gauge impact, Fed's Powell says

Tariffs to delay inflation progress, too soon to gauge impact, Fed's Powell says

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In