HomeInternational Olympic CommitteeINTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: Samaranch, Coe, Watanabe all talking in advance of March Presidential election

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: Samaranch, Coe, Watanabe all talking in advance of March Presidential election

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The International Olympic Committee will meet next March to select a new President for the organization, with seven declared candidates. The IOC’s election regulations do not allow for advertising and even much travel to talk to other members, but there is no limit on interviews.

So, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (GBR), long-time member Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. (ESP), and Federation Internationale de Gymnastique Morinari Watanabe (JPN) have all been chatting with news media.

Coe spoke to Japan’s Kyodo News principally about the 2025 World Athletics Championships, coming to Tokyo once again, this time with fans to be allowed in the new National Stadium, after the pandemic forced the Tokyo 2020 Games to held without spectators.

“My expectations are high. I want them to be the best world championships ever. For me, the Holy Grail, the most important target, is to have a full stadium.”

Coe also talked about the turmoil caused with other International Federations by offering – for the first time – prize money of $50,000 to the track & field gold medalists at the Paris Olympic Games:

“We made the right decision because we felt it was in the best interests of our athletes. We recognize that not every international federation is in a position to do that, and some may choose not to do it. So it was a judgment that my Council made.

“I’ve always been committed to, where possible, creating a little bit more financial security for the athletes. That financial security often gives them a reason to remain in the sport. We have to recognize times have changed. We did it for our sport. We didn’t do it to make a point to other sports.”

He also noted with some concern the announcements that IOC sponsors Bridgestone, Panasonic and Toyota all decided not to renew for the 2025-28 quadrennial, noting

“That has an impact not just on the Olympic movement or the IOC. It has an impact on the landscape of sport because there are interdependencies here. So this is worthy of more than just reflection.”

Samaranch told Agence France Presse last week that the Russian Olympic Committee is “today still in clear and flagrant breach of the Olympic Charter by taking over responsibilities of a fellow National Olympic Committee in certain territories,” referring to eastern Ukraine.

He followed up, explaining:

“The minute the reasons for suspension and non-recognition disappear, we have the obligation to start working very hard to bring them back.”

This brought a furious response from Ukraine Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidnyi, who told UNN Ukraine:

“The entire Ukrainian sports community was very surprised and outraged by the statements of IOC Vice President and presidential candidate Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. He stated several times, including at the last conference in Budapest, that there was unfinished business, that we should work on returning the Russian Olympic Committee to the IOC. …

“I think we could invite Mr. Samaranch to visit Ukraine to show him the destroyed sports facilities and allow him to talk to athletes whose loved ones have died because of Russian aggression. We hope that this was just an unfortunate mistake.”

In his AFP interview, Samaranch also emphasized the need to maintain the IOC’s independence in a time of increased global conflicts, to ensure that the Olympic Movement can “unite despite differences, despite controversies, despite fights, despite war.”

Watanabe spoke with Japan’s Jiji Press last week, explaining, “The Olympics needs to be changed to go with the times,” and “it’s necessary to create a new Olympics,” which includes more youth-oriented “urban” sports and eSports elements.

He emphasized that “there are things that must be done for children and the athletes who perform in Olympic Games” and that the IOC should be a better listener, and “obtain more opinions from people in the field.”

None of these candidates, or the other four – Feisal Al Hussein (JOR), Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), Johan Eliasch (GBR) and David Lappartient (FRA) – have posted their detailed candidate statements, which are expected in December.

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