## 2024-08-12 15:58:52
Following International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach‘s announcement that he will step down in 2025, the race to succeed him has begun. French news agency AFP reported, citing the Russian state news agency BTA.
Briton Sebastian Coe, a former Conservative MP and current Lord and President of World Athletics, has confirmed his interest in the position. “When the opportunity arises, I will certainly consider it,” he said, a two-time Olympic 1500m champion.
Coe is known for his strong stance on athletes from Russia and Belarus, advocating their complete exclusion from athletics, unlike Bach’s more balanced approach allowing limited participation under a neutral flag.
Two strong female candidates have emerged as potential successors. Dutchwoman Nicole Hewertz, 60, and Zimbabwe’s Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry, 40, are both members of the IOC’s Executive Committee and were prominent figures at the recent Paris Olympics.
Hewertz, a lawyer and polyglot, has extensive experience leading committees, including the one that allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under a neutral flag in the spring.
Coventry, a former swimmer with seven Olympic medals, brings managerial expertise and a successful athletic background to the race.