Olympic speed skating champion Svetlana Zhurova weighed in on which candidate Moscow should back for the IOC presidency. Her remarks, carried by Match TV, set the tone for a public debate that will shape how various national Olympic committees, federations, and sponsors view leadership of the international federation in the upcoming years. Zhurova, recognized not only for her speed on the ice but for a sharp sense of how sport politics moves, stressed that the next IOC president will influence the direction of Olympic sport, the handling of sponsorships, and the balance between athletes and member nations. She framed the discussion around the practical outcomes of leadership, noting how different candidates might steer the organization through waves of funding challenges, governance reforms, and the ongoing efforts to expand Olympic participation while safeguarding the integrity of competition. This commentary appeared at a moment when the Olympic Movement was examining its options and seeking a unifying figure who can navigate a diverse, global community while addressing concerns from North American and European stakeholders.
Zhurova named Samaranch Jr. as the most promising candidate, arguing that his track record within the movement, combined with strong institutional knowledge, could help the IOC maintain continuity while pursuing modernization. She also noted Faisal ibn Hussein, the Prince of Jordan, as a viable option who could appeal to a broader coalition of committees and athletes. She suggested that evolving trends within global sport could reshape the electorate and influence which leadership style they favor. Finally, she hinted that backing Sebastian Coe might be a pragmatic move, describing him as a useful candidate who could bridge Olympic tradition with contemporary governance practices. The statements, delivered in a conversational tone and echoed by Match TV, reflected a strategic view of how different leadership profiles could affect the federation’s trajectory in the coming years.
As the field of potential presidents hardened, a number of names surfaced in public reporting. Sebastian Coe, a respected track legend and long-time administrator, emerged as a central figure. Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., the IOC Vice President, was also repeatedly mentioned. Kirsty Coventry, a former swimmer and Zimbabwe’s sports minister, drew attention for her administrative experience. Faisal ibn Hussein, the Jordanian National Olympic Committee president, stood as a bridge between regions. Morinari Watanabe, the president of the International Gymnastics Federation, presented a governance perspective rooted in athlete development. David Lapartian, head of the International Cycling Union, and Juhan Elias, leader of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, were named among the contenders as well. The lineup illustrated a mix of former athletes and seasoned administrators from different continents, signaling a wide spectrum of priorities for the IOC presidency.
The planned elections for the IOC presidency were scheduled for March 2025. At that time, Thomas Bach served as the federation’s president, after succeeding Jacques Rogge. Bach’s leadership marked a period of steady governance amid growing calls for reform within the Olympic Movement. His tenure included both symbolic milestones and ongoing efforts to align the organization’s governance with the expectations of athletes, sponsors, and national bodies across the Americas, Europe, and beyond.
Bach is noted as the first German to preside over the IOC and the first Olympic champion to do so. He earned his place in Olympic history by winning team foil gold in 1976, and he also claimed a world championship in that discipline in 1977. Those achievements gave him credibility with athletes and national committees alike. His presidency linked athletic excellence with organizational experience, a combination that has shaped how the IOC communicates with member nations and partners.
Earlier reports suggested sponsors had relationships with the 2024 Paralympic Games that implied gifts to Russians, a claim that was rejected by the organization and other stakeholders. The episode underscored how sensitive sponsorship and governance issues can become as the IOC navigates funding, geopolitics, and transparency across a broad international audience. The movement has since continued to emphasize governance reforms, athlete representation, and robust oversight to maintain trust among fans in Canada, the United States, and other Olympic markets.