The IOC has always had a taste for politics. By nature and by tradition. But he doesn't like the rules. The six candidates to succeed Jacques Rogge in the presidential seat had only fifteen minutes, not one more, to speak in front of their peers, Thursday afternoon in Lausanne, as part of the extraordinary session of the 'institution. That's not much for campaigning. And a lot at once. The exercise is in fact a first in the more than century-old history of the Olympic movement.
By chance of the draw, the Puerto Rican Richard Carrion opened this grand oral, organized behind closed doors, without the possibility of presenting a film. Two hours later, the Ukrainian Sergeï Bubka closed the room. In the meantime, IOC members saw the Singaporean Ng Ser Miang, the German Thomas Bach, the Taiwanese C.K. Wu and the Swiss Denis Oswald parade. Comment from Jacques Rogge, elected twelve years earlier without having had to “undergo” such a presentation: “It was a good idea to organize this. Several members had requested it. It was very interesting, very good, well-articulated programs. »
Basically, nothing revolutionary. The six candidates worked to repeat their campaign themes, already distributed in writing to all members. They took the trouble to say what their peers wanted to hear, more or less clearly proposing a return to visits to candidate cities, a practice abandoned since the corruption scandal at the Salt Lake City Games.
In terms of form, each presented a rather different face. “You can see the attitude of the candidates, if they are more or less confident, convincing, what their presence is, what this person looks like when they stand in front of the world, representing your organization, it's an interesting exercise” , estimated Canadian Dick Pound, who himself was an unsuccessful candidate against Rogge 12 years ago, quoted by AFP. Before continuing: “The main values are more or less the same. But their approach is different, the way they prioritize their actions. »
Thomas Bach, announced as the favorite, admitted to being very satisfied with the exercise. “I was looking forward to this, like a sporting competition when you finally enter the scene,” explained the German, risking a very sporting comparison. You can feel good in training but the important thing is to be good on the day of the final and the final is September 10. In this race, only the gold medal counts. »
Denis Oswald, the French-speaking Swiss president of FISA, said he was “happy to have got across” his message. Richard Carrion, the Puerto Rican banker, said he spoke from his heart “to let them know what I had in mind. »
As a reminder, the election for the presidency of the IOC, on September 10, will pit the following six leaders against each other:
Thomas Bach, Germany, 59 years old. President of the German Olympic Committee, Olympic champion in team foil in The former fencer won Olympic gold in team foil in Montreal in 1976 fifteen before 1976, member of the IOC since 1991. Lawyer and businessman. The favourite.
Sergey Bubka, Ukraine, 49 years old. Still world record holder in the pole vault, Olympic champion in 1988, six-time world champion. President of the Ukrainian Olympic Committee, vice-president of the IAAF. The youngest of the lot, the best known to the general public. The most novice, too.
Richard Carrion, Puerto Rico, 60 years old. Businessman and banker, head of the IOC Finance Commission. The institution owes him the signing of the pharaonic contract of 4,38 billion dollars with the American channel NBC for the exclusive television rights to the Games in the United States until 2020. A serious candidate.
Ng Ser Miang, Singapore, 64 years old. Former skipper, Ambassador of Singapore to Norway. Vice-President of the IOC, head of the organizing committee for the Youth Olympic Games in 2010. Very appreciated, very diplomatic. Close to Jacques Rogge.
Denis Oswald, Switzerland, 66 years old. Lawyer and law professor, bronze medalist in rowing at the 1968 Games. President of FISA since 1989. Very consensual. Without doubt the best connoisseur of the mysteries of the IOC. Should be able to count on the support, and the voice, of Jean-Claude Killy.
Wu Ching-Kuo, Taiwan, 66 years old. President of the International Amateur Boxing Federation (AIBA) for seven years. Member of the IOC since 1988. Architect. He made a name for himself by building a museum in China in honor of former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch.
photo credit (c) R. Juilliart/IOC
