World Athletics president Lord 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.
Britain’s two-time Olympic 1500m champion Coe faces competition from Spaniard Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, France’s David Lappartient, Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry, Japan’s Morinari Watanabe, Swede Johan Eliasch and Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan.
Coventry, a seven-time Olympic swimming medallist, is bidding to become the first woman and African to head the IOC.
German lawyer Bach has been in charge since 2013.
The new IOC president will be elected at a session in ancient Olympia from 18-21 March 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.
Candidates include, Prince Feisal al Hussein, aged 63, Jordan A former wrestler and rally driver.
Lord Sebastian Coe, 67, Great Britain – Renowned middle-distance runner who became a Conservative MP.
Kirsty Coventry, 41, Zimbabwe Africa’s most decorated Olympian who competed at five Games.
Johan Eliasch, 62, Sweden – President of International Ski and Snowboard Federation
David Lappartient, 51, France – President of cycling’s governing body Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and president of the French Olympic Committee.
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, 64, Spain – One of four current IOC vice presidents.
Morinari Watanabe, 65, Japan – President of International Gymnastics Federation since 2017.
