It's time to convince. The seven candidates for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee are in Lausanne this Thursday to present their programs. They will appear in turn in the morning before the members of the IOC, gathered at Olympic House, with the same objective: to show that their vision is the right one for the future of the body and to make an impression in view of the 144th session, which will elect Thomas Bach's successor on March 20 in Greece.
Fifteen minutes flat
The IOC set the framework for the exercise several weeks in advance. Each candidate will have 15 minutes. The rules allow for the possibility of speaking in French and/or English. The most astute will certainly decide to combine the two languages in order to speak to as many people as possible. It is easy to imagine David Lappartient, who is bilingual, adopting this strategy. The Breton was, along with Feisal Al Hussein and Kirsty Coventry, one of the three to present his candidacy document in English, French and Spanish. The other candidates had chosen to combine English and Spanish, or to be satisfied with a single version in English. Addressing even a few words in French could allow them to send a message, and score a few points with the French-speaking members.
Timer management will also be essential. Thirty additional seconds will be allowed once the 15 minutes are up, then the microphone will be automatically cut off. Candidates will be able to support their remarks with a PowerPoint presentation. Everyone was given 10 minutes to get their bearings in the room and do the necessary tests on Wednesday. There will be no questions and answers with the audience; the candidates will be the only ones speaking. Note that this oral will be held behind closed doors, without outside observers. The media will simply be allowed to 10 minutes of questions and answers with each candidate at the end of the session, from 11:30 a.m.
Stand out from the crowd, but stay on track
The candidates will not make any presentations at the 144th IOC Session, from 19 to 21 March. This oral will therefore be decisive since it is their only opportunity to express themselves directly to the electorate. The draw has designated Feisal Al Hussein to open the show. They will be followed, in order, by David Lappartient, Johan Eliasch, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Kirsty Coventry, Sebastian Coe and Morinari Watanabe. The 15 minutes of speaking time they have will give them time to say quite a few things and put their ideas into practice. With the programmes available online, the IOC members have already been able to absorb them. But to what extent?
This oral presentation must allow candidates to convince and seduce. Demonstrate a mastery of key subjects, their ability to respond to the many challenges facing the IOC, and set the course for the next eight years. The themes that each will address will set the tone. Artificial intelligence? Sustainability? Governance? Inclusion? Candidates will also try to distinguish themselves from their opponents. IOC members will spend nearly two hours listening to these presentations. It will therefore be necessary to capture attention and try to stand out from the crowd to remain in their minds at the end of this session. Sebastian Coe may play the electoral reform map with this in mind: the president of World Athletics is proposing to be elected for an initial term of four years, then to put his presidency up for grabs in a referendum based on his record. Like an athlete who has been preparing for months for the Olympic event, he will have to be good on D-Day. Because the election may be decided this Thursday.
