IOC presidential election week: Let’s recap our Q&A sessions with the seven candidates
Graphics by Nordcap Studio
LAUSANNE, March 17, 2025 – It is the IOC presidential election week, and the 10th leader of the most powerful organization in world sports will be known on 20 March, during the 144th IOC Session, which opens tomorrow (18 March) in Greece.
A record seven candidates are competing for this top job, and AIPS provided an incredible platform for each of them to communicate their vision for the Olympic Movement and global sports to sports journalists from all over the world.
The unprecedented Q&A series “Let’s Talk to the IOC Presidential Candidates” took place between 24 February and 7 March on Zoom, moderated by AIPS President Gianni Merlo.
As the IOC membership prepares to go to the polls on Thursday, here’s a recap of the insightful Q&A sessions with each of the candidate (listed in order of the draw conducted by the IOC):
HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein: article and video
Mr David Lappartient: article and video
Mr Johan Eliasch: article and video
Mr Juan Antonio Samaranch: article and video
Mrs Kirsty Coventry: article and video
Lord Sebastian Coe: article and video
Mr Morinari Watanabe: article and video
THE IOC ELECTION
Only IOC members can vote for the IOC president and the election will be held by secret ballot. As stated in the voting regulations approved by the IOC EB in December 2024: “The new president will be elected in principle for a term of eight years, unless the newly elected president loses his/her IOC membership before the end of the term for whatever reason, in particular because of the age limit. The term of office of the new IOC president will start on 24 June 2025, allowing the newly elected IOC president to leave any previous office or position, and in order to facilitate a smooth transition between the current IOC president and the newly elected IOC president.”
A record seven candidates are competing for this top job, and AIPS provided an incredible platform for each of them to communicate their vision for the Olympic Movement and global sports to sports journalists from all over the world.
The unprecedented Q&A series “Let’s Talk to the IOC Presidential Candidates” took place between 24 February and 7 March on Zoom, moderated by AIPS President Gianni Merlo.
As the IOC membership prepares to go to the polls on Thursday, here’s a recap of the insightful Q&A sessions with each of the candidate (listed in order of the draw conducted by the IOC):
HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein: article and video
Mr David Lappartient: article and video
Mr Johan Eliasch: article and video
Mr Juan Antonio Samaranch: article and video
Mrs Kirsty Coventry: article and video
Lord Sebastian Coe: article and video
Mr Morinari Watanabe: article and video
THE IOC ELECTION
Only IOC members can vote for the IOC president and the election will be held by secret ballot. As stated in the voting regulations approved by the IOC EB in December 2024: “The new president will be elected in principle for a term of eight years, unless the newly elected president loses his/her IOC membership before the end of the term for whatever reason, in particular because of the age limit. The term of office of the new IOC president will start on 24 June 2025, allowing the newly elected IOC president to leave any previous office or position, and in order to facilitate a smooth transition between the current IOC president and the newly elected IOC president.”
Video gallery
Let's Talk to the IOC Presidential Candidates
Let's Talk to IOC Presidential Candidate Lord Sebastian Coe
