A closed-door race for the most powerful position in sports

IOC presidential election 2025 remains shrouded in secrecy as candidates vie for leadership.

People take photos with the Olympic Rings in Cortina d'Ampezzo on January 17, 2025. Photo by Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images

By Yuni Utomo and Randy Ahmad

Late Wednesday night, members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gathered for a private dinner at the Olympic Museum on the banks of Lake Geneva. The following morning, they were scheduled to hear presentations from seven candidates vying for the IOC presidency—a position widely regarded as the most influential in global sports governance.

Despite the high stakes, the election process remains veiled in secrecy. At the dinner, outgoing president Thomas Bach ensured that IOC members were kept separate from the candidates, joking that it was to allow them to enjoy their meals in peace. However, the reality is that the restrictive election rules prevent open debate, public endorsements, or direct opposition between candidates.

The winner, to be chosen in March at a resort in southern Greece, will lead an organization that controls the Olympics—an event synonymous with prestige, global unity, and political influence. Yet, many candidates have voiced frustration over the process, arguing that the restrictive rules hinder transparency and prevent them from effectively sharing their vision with IOC members and the public.

IOC election rules stifle debate and transparency

Unlike most democratic elections, the IOC presidential race forbids candidates from engaging in debates or publicly challenging their rivals’ platforms. Even receiving an endorsement from an IOC member is prohibited.

“What we are looking at as candidates is to become the president of the largest sports movement in the world,” said Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein, one of the seven contenders. “In fairness, transparency, and integrity, the world has a right to know who is running and what they stand for.”

His direct criticism is rare within the protocol-heavy world of the 130-year-old organization. However, his concerns are shared by many within the Olympic movement.

The IOC’s membership is a mix of sports federation leaders, business executives, politicians, and royalty. The election is overseen by Princess Anne, the younger sister of King Charles III of England, who heads the nominations committee. Currently, the IOC has 110 members, making it one of the most exclusive organizations in the world.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential candidate Kirsty Coventry speaks during a press conference after a presentation before fellow IOC members on January 30, 2025, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

Among the presidential candidates, Prince Faisal is the only hereditary royal. However, Juan Antonio Samaranch, another contender, carries IOC aristocracy status—his father led the organization for two decades until 2001, shaping much of its modern structure. The race also includes four sports federation leaders, including Sebastian Coe, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and president of World Athletics. Additionally, Kirsty Coventry, an Olympic champion swimmer from Zimbabwe, is in the running. If elected, she would become both the first woman and the first African president of the IOC.

Secretive presentations and limited voter interaction

For such a significant election, much of the process occurs behind closed doors. On Thursday morning, the candidates, all staying at the luxury Lausanne Palace—a longtime IOC haunt with a suite named after Samaranch’s father—were escorted in black Mercedes minivans to the IOC headquarters. Each candidate delivered a 15-minute presentation, their only chance to address the full membership before the vote.

Officials had to surrender their cell phones upon entry, and recordings of the presentations were strictly prohibited. Members were also barred from asking candidates questions, further limiting dialogue.

Several IOC officials have privately compared the process to a papal conclave, where cardinals elect a new pope in total secrecy, revealing the result only when white smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel.

After his speech, Samaranch admitted he wished he had a recording of what he called “the speech of my life.” However, despite disagreeing with many of the election’s rigid rules, he did not challenge them.

Under the current regulations, in-person meetings between candidates and voters are tightly controlled, requiring prior approval from the IOC’s ethics body. Phone calls are permitted, but face-to-face engagement is rare.

“It’s nonsense,” said Morinari Watanabe, a long-shot candidate from Japan who leads the International Gymnastics Federation. After the presentations, members were chauffeured away, and their next formal gathering will take place just before the vote.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Morinari Watanabe speaks during a press conference after a presentation before fellow IOC members on January 30, 2025, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images

Watanabe’s campaign ideas include transforming the Olympics into a continuous 24-hour event across five continents and even renaming the IOC—radical proposals for an organization known for its slow approach to change.

The power and responsibility of the IOC presidency

The IOC presidency carries immense influence, overseeing an organization that generates nearly $8 billion per Olympic cycle. The role also functions as a diplomatic bridge in international sports, a position often courted by global political leaders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was the first world leader to call Thomas Bach after his election in 2013, underscoring the position’s geopolitical significance.

Despite the high stakes, most IOC members remain tight-lipped about their voting preferences. When asked about the election, Luis Mejia Oviedo, a delegate from the Dominican Republic, simply smiled and shook hands instead of answering.

Syed Shahid Ali, an IOC member for nearly 30 years, lamented the erosion of internal debate within the organization. “The IOC is an autonomous body but quite private in one sense,” he said. “It controls world sport, so from that perspective, it’s not all that private. But from the inner workings of how it functions—that is quite private.”

Candidates promise more member involvement

Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., candidate for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), speaks during a press conference after a presentation before fellow IOC members on January 30, 2025, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images

Several candidates, including Samaranch and Coventry, have pledged to give members greater influence over key decisions. One of the biggest issues is Olympic host city selection. Under Bach’s leadership, the decision-making process has shifted toward a system where a single “preferred candidate” is presented for member approval, reducing their role in the decision.

“They should have spoken up about this much earlier,” said Ali. “It either shows a lack of conviction or suggests it’s only becoming important to them now that they are candidates.”

With no clear frontrunner and a secretive voting process, predicting the outcome is difficult. Coventry, who recently became a mother for the second time, has been rumored to have Bach’s backing. However, she dismissed speculation of favoritism.

“I think he’s being very fair to all of us,” she told reporters in a press conference, which was limited to 10 minutes per candidate. “I don’t feel that he is out campaigning for me.”

Challenges ahead for the next IOC president

Whoever wins the election will face significant challenges. One key priority will be renegotiating the IOC’s multi-billion-dollar U.S. television rights contract, which expires after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The new president will also have to manage tensions with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which has been in a prolonged dispute with the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Additionally, the relationship between the IOC and the U.S. government will be crucial, especially with the Los Angeles Games potentially taking place under a second Trump administration, known for its unpredictable approach to international relations.

“These are big challenges,” said Coe, one of the frontrunners. “They’ll be in my in-tray if I am successful.”

As the election date approaches, candidates must work within the strict limitations to secure votes. On the final night in Lausanne, Samaranch tried to gather IOC members for dinner before they dispersed to their homes, businesses, and palaces around the world. Making a lasso-like gesture, he attempted to round up as many as possible—a fitting metaphor for a race where personal outreach remains both crucial and tightly restricted.