World Athletics president Sebastian Coe has declared he will think about running for president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after Thomas Bach announced he would not seek to continue as IOC head after his second term ends in 2025.
Bach has been the head of the IOC since 2013. Coe, the president of the 2012 London Olympics Organising Committee and a two-time Olympic 1,500-metre winner, has previously indicated interest in this role.
Coe admitted: “I’ve always made it clear that if the opportunity arose, I would obviously give it serious thought… The opportunity has arisen, and clearly I need to think about that.”
Election of new president
According to Bach, an election will be held at Olympia in March next year to choose a new IOC president, who will enter office in June. Although Coe’s experience speaks for itself, he said that there are many more deserving applicants.
Coe said: “I have been involved in the Olympic movement for the larger part of my life. I’ve chaired an Olympic Games from bids through delivery and two years of legacy after that. I’ve been privileged to compete in two Olympics Games, and I’ve chaired a National Olympic Committee, and I now have the best job in the world, I’m president of the number one Olympic sport.”
He added: “These are experiences that if you put together, I think would be beneficial to the role… But there are other potential candidates who have good qualifications for that role… We’re a diverse group of people, global people. There is a talented membership. That membership needs to be embraced. I think the membership needs to have a good range of quality qualified people to look at.”
However, Coe’s age of 67 may be a disadvantage in light of discussions over the necessity for younger leadership at the international organization. As the head of World Athletics, he has also made moves that have caused friction with some of the biggest names in international sports, such as giving $50,000 to Paris Olympic gold medallists in athletics.
Source: CNA