Heavyweight trio eye history in race to succeed Olympics chief Bach

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach  attends the first day of the 142nd IOC Session, three days ahead of the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Paris on July 23, 2024. Fabrice Coffrini, AFP/File

COSTA NAVARINO, Greece -- 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 neck and neck but clear of the remaining quartet.

Any of those three would be an historic winner in the election in Costa Navarino, Greece.

Samaranch would emulate his father of the same name and become the first father and son to be crowned president, World Athletics president Coe would be the first Briton and Zimbabwean Coventry the youngest at 41, and both the first woman and African.

Nevertheless surprises from the electorate of 100-plus IOC members cannot be ruled out in the battle to become the most powerful figure in sports governance.

Ski federation chief and renowned environmentalist Johan Eliasch, Morinari Watanabe, president of the international gymnastics federation, cycling head David Lappartient and Prince Feisal al-Hussein make up the heavyweight field.

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The vote takes place behind closed doors and just as in the award-winning film "Conclave" about cardinals choosing a new pope, all the IOC members will be obliged to leave their phones outside the room.

Just off the exclusive resort is the site of the 1827 naval battle in the Greek War of Independence which resulted in a heavy defeat for the Ottoman Empire.

While this battle will be bloodless it has got dirtier with the three main candidates targeted in the past week as the contest enters the decisive stage.

Whoever wins will take over a financially secure body, but those calm waters are muddied by a febrile geopolitical situation.

Adding to the potent mix, the new IOC chief will have to deal with unpredictable US President Donald Trump as Los Angeles hosts the next Summer Olympics in 2028.

In this "very complex world", as Samaranch termed it, where previously undisputed truths such as "universality, fraternity and unity" are now disputed, it is no time to take a leap in the dark.

The 65-year-old Spaniard, an assured and polished performer with over two decades as an IOC member, argues he provides the steady hand at the tiller that is required.

"It is not about the face or the gender, or the continent," he told AFP in an interview.

"Even in the easiest of times, we should elect the best person for the job.

"This is too important and too relevant for too many people to experiment."

Samaranch Junior would take over an IOC radically different to the one his father did in 1980 and then ran for over two decades, effectively saving it with a radical transformation of its finances.

Samaranch, though, while praising his father for overseeing the saving of "Olympism", insists his era is not "remotely relevant today."

Coe appears to be seen by Bach as the disruptor candidate, which is perhaps surprising given many would view him as an establishment figure.

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- 'Ready to lead' -

While Samaranch Junior brings a calm urbanity, two-time Olympic 1,500 meters champion Coe oozes charisma and a ready wit.

Coe, 68, also boasts an impressive CV. A former lawmaker for the centre-right Conservatives, he led London's successful bid to host the 2012 Games, surprising long-time front-runners Paris.

He then took the plaudits along with his team for the highly-praised hosting of the Games and has been credited with reforming track and field's global body since becoming president in 2015.

He has promised IOC members will get a greater voice than it is felt has been the case during Bach's 12-year tenure -- Coe told AFP his approach would be "don't micro-manage".

Both Samaranch Junior and Coe have conducted high-profile media campaigns in contrast to Coventry's low-key strategy.

The seven-time Olympic swimming medallist is widely seen as being Bach's preferred candidate, something she denies.

Although Bach refused to be drawn on this on Monday, saying only that a new era "requires new leaders", a seriously ill IOC member has flown in to vote for Coventry.

Coventry says if she is elected it would be a huge moment for her continent.

"For Africa, it would open up, I think, many opportunities for different leadership roles to say, right, as Africa we're ready," she said.

"We're ready to lead."

There have been complaints from the majority of the candidates, including Coe, over the electoral rules -- mainly that not enough engagement is permitted with the IOC members.

Coe appears to be battling against the odds -- it has been reported Bach has been phoning members advising them to not vote for him.

However, that may not have the impact Bach hopes.

"Never write Coe off," one IOC member told AFP.

"He is a winner."

© Agence France-Presse