What funny coincidence that “Conclave” was just running into the cinemas, Edward Berger’s adaptation of Robert Harris’s novel of the same name. A story about how to choose a new Pope a conspiracy. In this regard, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of the Catholic Church has traditionally been inferior, neither as far as the intrigue concerns nor the way you take important to yourself and your choice.
Six candidates and a candidate are ready in a five-star resort near the Greek coastal town of Romanos on Thursday to rise to the tenth head in the 130-year history of the IOC. The Frenchman David Lappartiant, President of the World Cycling Association, the British-Swedish billionaire Johan Eliasch, head of the ski and snowboard world association FIS, Gymnastics World Association President Morinari Watanabe from Japan, Jordan’s Prince Faisal Bin Al Hussein, the former swimming Olympic champion from Zimbabwe Spanish investment banker Juan Antonio Samaranch jr. as well as athletics world association chief Sebastian Coe. According to the situation, only the last three mentioned have serious opportunities.
:Will the next IOC president become a Samaranch again?
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., Son of the former IOC patron, actually has a good chance of becoming president of the International Olympic Committee and continuing the family dynasty. But Juanito plays a risky game.
To win, the absolute majority from the plenary of the 109 voting members are needed. Flows are difficult to grip in an elector’s office that is composed of political dignitaries (Katars Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani), land and high bat (Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Nora von Liechtenstein), association prince (FIFA boss Gianni Infantino) and Olympic Blue Blood (Biathlon Olympic champion Fourcade). Germany has, alongside president Thomas Bach, two members in the IOC: the entrepreneur Michael Mronz, primarily known as the head of the riding tournament Chio, and the former gymnast Kim Bui, who has been sitting in the IOC athletes since 2024. Incidentally, Bach will not vote on Thursday – unless there is a tie in the end. And with it welcome to the thicket of the imponderables.
The election rules dictate that after each round the candidate leaves with the fewest voices – and is voted until one or one unites the absolute majority. After each round, however, it is usually only announced who it hit as the bottom, the full interim result is not public. In 2001 and 2013, the IOC at least published the end result afterwards. Jacques won Rogge and Bach in the second round.
This time it should take longer than in 2001 and 2013
Round two could not bring the decision this time, because Coe, Samaranch or Coventry will initially hardly unite the absolute majority. And it could take before one or one of the favorites. In addition, when a candidate has been eliminated, the IOC members from his country can vote. This dynamic, suspect, could work against Coventry, provided that it should not be clearly in front in round one.
However, there is still the fact that over 70 of the currently 109 IOC members were appointed Thomas Bach in the twelve-year term. The former IOC-Doyen Richard Pound once told how the father of Juan Antonio Samarach jr. In 2001, before he left Moscow as IOC President, many members quoted in his hotel room individually. There he said to everyone: “I brought you to the IOC, you owe me a favor!” At that time, the old Samaranch wanted to prevent the affair-shaped Kim UN-Yong from South Korea, which would have been difficult as a new face of an organization at the time. On the other hand, when choosing the most important office in world sports, world politics always plays into it. Conclave.
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