Elections for the new IOC president will take place in March 2025. Potential candidates include Watanabe, World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe and IOC Vice-President Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr.
“If we look at these three candidates, Samaranch Jr. would probably be our best choice. He may have a moral obligation to his father, who was good to the Soviet Union and Russia, and even at the height of the Cold War, the IOC did not interfere in our affairs. If Vasily Titov is talking about Watanabe, it may indicate good relations between us. However, I doubt that the Japanese, even if they are nominated and elected, will settle in Europe, since the IOC president must reside in Lausanne. He faces a difficult choice regarding his candidacy.
“As for Coe, he has support and sponsors, and as an Olympic champion he has his advantages. His candidacy seems the most realistic, but for us it is unlikely that his election will bring anything positive. Although, perhaps, the situation will change when Coe will no longer be obliged to comply with the political agenda,” Zhurova said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
Source: Sport
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