Sept 13 V7N -

As the election for the next International Olympic Committee (IOC) president approaches, prospective candidates, including World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe and Spanish IOC Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., are navigating a complex set of election rules.

Coe, 67, and Samaranch, 64, are among those eyeing the top position in the world's largest multi-sport organization. According to a recent letter from IOC ethics commission chief Ban Ki-moon, the new IOC president must be an IOC member throughout their term. Furthermore, the age limit for IOC membership is set at 70, with only a single possibility of a four-year extension. This means that, under current rules, both Coe and Samaranch could surpass the age limit during their presidency if they were elected.

Currently, neither Coe nor Samaranch faces any immediate obstacles to running for the presidency, as they are both under the age limit and are active IOC members. However, potential complications could arise if, for instance, Coe were to lose his position as president of World Athletics, which is linked to his IOC membership.

The new IOC president will be elected in March 2025 at a session in ancient Olympia, Greece, and will officially take over in June 2025. The IOC president has the ability to push through rule changes, either through executive board decisions or charter amendments, which could potentially address any age-related issues.

Neither Coe nor Samaranch has commented on the implications of these rules for their candidacies.

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