Lord Coe in Contention to Become IOC President

World Athletics president Lord Sebastian Coe has been named as one of seven confirmed candidates to succeed Thomas Bach as International Olympic Committee, IOC, president.

Bach announced at the Paris Olympics last month that he intends to stand down after the end of his second term next year.

Sports analyst, Leighton Levy, says Lord Coe is not the best candidate for the job.

Coe faces competition from Spaniard Juan Antonio Samaranch, France’s David Lappartient, Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry, Japan’s Morinari Watanabe, Swede Johan Eliasch and Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan.

Levy says Wanatabe would be his early favourite to replace Bach.

Coventry, a seven-time Olympic swimming medallist, is bidding to become the first woman and African to head the IOC.

Leighton Levy, sports analyst.

German lawyer Bach has been in charge since 2013.

The new IOC president will be elected at a session in ancient Olympia from March 18-21, 2025 and will take over in June of that year.

Candidates will make presentations to the full IOC membership at a private meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, in January.

All IOC presidents have been men, with eight of the nine from Europe and one from the United States.