On eve of Olympic election, IOC presidential candidate Samaranch plays down emerging favorite status
COSTA NAVARINO, Greece (AP) — With perception growing he can become the next IOC president Thursday, Juan Antonio Samaranch played down his possible status as favorite on the eve of voting.
“I admire you guys very much for the capacity sometimes,” Samaranch told reporters Wednesday, “to predict what the result will be. I really don’t know.”
The most open presidential contest in the modern International Olympic Committee history is now widely seen as narrowing to three of the seven candidates: IOC vice president Samaranch and a pair of two-time Olympic gold medalists, Sebastian Coe and Kirsty Coventry.
Coventry, the 41-year-old sports minister of Zimbabwe, would be the first woman and first African to lead the IOC in its 131 years.
“I’m biased so I’m going to say yes,” she said Wednesday, when asked if it was time for a female president. “Let’s create some change, let’s make sure that happens.”
All the candidates and their voters are in the exclusive and invited club of IOC members currently numbering 109.
A theory among veteran Olympic watchers is Coventry, long seen as outgoing president Thomas Bach’s preferred choice, has a solid bloc of voters in the first round but short of an absolute majority to win.
Then, it is suggested, Samaranch will be well placed to pick up votes in each subsequent round when other candidates are eliminated. Also in the race are Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan, Johan Eliasch, David Lappartient and Morinari Watanabe.
The winner Thursday formally takes office on June 23 — officially Olympic Day — as Bach reaches his maximum 12 years in office.
Elusive votesThe thoughts and voting intentions of IOC members are perhaps the most elusive of any sports politics body. Among them, the Emir of Qatar, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, princesses from Liechtenstein and Saudi Arabia, princes from Bhutan and Monaco, former lawmakers and diplomats including past presidents of Croatia and Costa Rica, plus sports officials and Olympic athletes.
“There is a lot of guesswork what is going on,” said Prince Feisal, an IOC member for 15 years who sits on its executive board. “I have got an extremely good chance.”
Coventry did not directly address a question Wednesday about Bach's backing, though insisted campaigning was above board.
The Auburn University graduate urged voters “to really think about what they want the movement to be represented by and match that with who they feel is the best candidate.”
Samaranch said votes were precious and confidential, and suggested voters must “forget about” pressures, recommendations and identity politics.
“Each one has to make sure that they use that important right they have to vote however they feel,” he said.
Coe, who has a comprehensive track record as an athlete, former British lawmaker and 2012 London Olympics organizer, offered just brief comments when candidates ran a gauntlet of global media during a break on the first of three days of the IOC’s annual meeting.
“I’m in good shape but it’s only lunchtime,” quipped the 68-year-old president of track and field’s World Athletics.
A tight campaignAn opaque five-month campaign tightly controlled by the IOC will see no formal presentations by candidates before voting starts Thursday at 4 p.m. local time in Greece (1400 GMT).
Just one formal campaign event was allowed, in January at IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the seven made 15-minute speeches and no questions were allowed.
“It would have been great to have that option,” Lappartient, the French president of the International Cycling Union, said Wednesday. “Then you can really feel the capacity of the candidate.”
The winner Thursday will be the 10th president in IOC history. The seventh was Samaranch’s father, also Juan Antonio Samaranch, who oversaw appointing some of these voters before his 21-year term ended in 2001.
Asked if family heritage was an advantage, Samaranch said: “Not in this moment, I think I really have to concentrate on the future.”
The Spanish financier also suggested what will be the key challenge for the winner, with the 2026 Winter Games in northern Italy and the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games on the horizon.
“There is one and one only,” Samaranch said. “We must concentrate (on) successful and relevant Olympic Games. The rest comes with success in the games.”
___
AP Olympics at https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
-
IOC candidate Samaranch sees diplomacy with Trump as key priority ahead of 2028 LA Olympics
Meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump should be high on the agenda of the next IOC leader, according to a strong candidate to win the Olympic body’s presidential election next week. “It has to ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
IOC candidate Samaranch sees diplomacy with Trump as key priority ahead of 2028 LA Olympics
One of the strong candidates to win the IOC's presidential election next week says meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump should be high on the winner's agendaABC News - 4d -
Ancient Olympia hosts IOC candidates and voters two days ahead of presidential contest
Seven candidates in the IOC presidential election came to the most sacred Olympic site two days before the contest Thursday to elect a new leaderABC News - 1d -
Coe feels ‘momentum’ but IOC presidential race remains on knife-edge
Vote on next IOC president to take place on Thursday Samaranch Jr, Coventry and Coe the leading contenders Sebastian Coe feels he has momentum as the race to become the next president of the ...The Guardian - 55m -
Olympic contest to pick IOC president is quirky and controlled by tight campaign and voting rules
The IOC is the undisputed champion of running the most tightly managed sports election, one compared by veteran Olympic watchers to a conclave to pick a pope. The voters themselves will get ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
A look at the seven candidates in the International Olympic Committee presidential election
A look at the seven candidates in the International Olympic Committee presidential election on ThursdayABC News - 2h -
‘Seb is a leader’: Farah, Bolt and Grey-Thompson back Coe for IOC president
Vote to succeed Thomas Bach is on Thursday Samaranch and Coventry seen as main rivals Some of the biggest names of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics have thrown their weight behind ...The Guardian - 1d -
A look at the seven candidates in the International Olympic Committee presidential election
A two-time Olympic champion runner in the 1,500 meters; led the winning bid and organizing of the 2012 London Olympics; the president for a decade of track body World Athletics; his former jobs ...Yahoo Sports - 2h -
Heavyweight trio eye history in race to succeed Olympics chief Bach
The race to succeed Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee reaches a climax on Thursday with Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, Sebastian Coe and Kirsty Coventry believed to be ...Yahoo Sports - 17h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
PFF picks 'least favorite' free agent signing for Colts
Of the free agency moves made by the Indianapolis Colts, which one was Pro Football Focus' least favorite?Yahoo Sports - 8m -
PFF picks 'least favorite' free agent signing for Colts
Of the free agency moves made by the Indianapolis Colts, which one was Pro Football Focus' least favorite?Yahoo Sports - 8m -
March Madness will be Tre Johnson's last hurrah as a Texas Longhorn
Freshman Tre Johnson's time as a Texas Longhorn is quickly coming to an end. His play in the upcoming NCAA Tournament will define how he's remembered.Yahoo Sports - 12m -
March Madness will be Tre Johnson's last hurrah as a Texas Longhorn
Freshman Tre Johnson's time as a Texas Longhorn is quickly coming to an end. His play in the upcoming NCAA Tournament will define how he's remembered.Yahoo Sports - 12m -
2025 Men's March Madness brackets: NBC Sports experts share their Final Four, predictions
Torn between a couple Cinderella picks? Back and forth on a champion? See what our experts think about the men's tournament.Yahoo Sports - 13m
More in Sports
-
PFF picks 'least favorite' free agent signing for Colts
Of the free agency moves made by the Indianapolis Colts, which one was Pro Football Focus' least favorite?Yahoo Sports - 8m -
PFF picks 'least favorite' free agent signing for Colts
Of the free agency moves made by the Indianapolis Colts, which one was Pro Football Focus' least favorite?Yahoo Sports - 8m -
March Madness will be Tre Johnson's last hurrah as a Texas Longhorn
Freshman Tre Johnson's time as a Texas Longhorn is quickly coming to an end. His play in the upcoming NCAA Tournament will define how he's remembered.Yahoo Sports - 12m -
March Madness will be Tre Johnson's last hurrah as a Texas Longhorn
Freshman Tre Johnson's time as a Texas Longhorn is quickly coming to an end. His play in the upcoming NCAA Tournament will define how he's remembered.Yahoo Sports - 12m -
2025 Men's March Madness brackets: NBC Sports experts share their Final Four, predictions
Torn between a couple Cinderella picks? Back and forth on a champion? See what our experts think about the men's tournament.Yahoo Sports - 13m