Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. is one of seven candidates for the IOC presidency, who will be put to a vote by the organization's members on March 20. He could become the second Spaniard to hold the position after... his father, who was at the helm from 1980 to 2001. The 65-year-old candidate can draw on solid experience and a deep knowledge of the Olympic movement, having joined the organization as a member in 2001 and is currently its vice-president. He is developing his vision for FrancsJeux.
Why do you want to become IOC President?
I am fortunate to be able to say that I have been part of the Olympic Movement throughout my life, from the first Games I attended as a child, Munich 1972, to the fantastic Games in Paris last summer. During this long period, I have become aware of the importance of the Olympic Movement in today's divided world. The Olympic values are among the few things in life that unite us rather than divide us. At this point in my career and life, I humbly believe that I have acquired the understanding, vision and management skills necessary to lead the IOC into a new era that I hope will maintain and strengthen these values and the global relevance of the Movement.
What would be the three priorities of your mandate?
We are facing a changing geopolitical, economic and technological environment. My three priorities would be: first, maintaining and strengthening the relevance of the Olympic Games. Everything stems from a successful Games, without which everything we do is called into question. Second, protecting the universality of the Games and their values. Our values – expressed so clearly through the Olympic Village where people of different cultures and religions stay together under one roof – are more important than ever. And finally, we must take a deep look at our business and revenue model, and ensure a solid financial base for all stakeholders. We must identify new commercial opportunities to increase financial support for all stakeholders.
What would you put in place in the short term, by the end of 2025?
In my manifesto, I set out 40 clear action points that will shape my agenda as President if I am fortunate enough to be elected. One of these is to commission a comprehensive operational review with experienced external resources, Olympic experts and selected IOC members to assess all IOC programmes on their alignment with the mission, their impact and return on investment. If I am chosen to lead the IOC, I commit to starting this review as soon as I take office. We must continually review our operations to ensure that resources are allocated wisely and effectively.
More and more events are favouring joint bids and organisation between several countries. Is this a feasible and desirable path for the future of the Olympic and Paralympic Games?
What differentiates the Games from other sporting events is that they go far beyond the competition: the Olympic Village, the community, the heroes, the values… So we must avoid organising a simultaneous collection of world championships. We understand that there will be times when the host city will have to organise events in other cities or away from the main Games centre – for very good reasons of sustainability, cost, and that is fine. But wherever possible, I would prefer that dispersion be the exception rather than the rule.
“Let’s be clear: we must do everything in our power to keep boxing on the Olympic programme. It is so important to many countries in our Olympic family.”
What would be your position on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in Milan-Cortina 2026?
If the reasons for the suspension of the Russian and Belarusian Olympic Committees disappear, we will have an obligation to reinstate them in the Olympic events. We listen to the words of peace and progress, everyone hopes that there will soon be an end to all the suffering. If the conditions do not change in time for Milan-Cortina, we will have to apply the same rule as in Paris, namely that the athletes of these countries will compete as neutral individual athletes.
The Olympic future of boxing, an iconic sport, is uncertain. Do you think that the efforts undertaken by World Boxing are enough to keep boxing on the programme?
The IOC has now taken the decision to provisionally recognise World Boxing as an International Federation within the Olympic Movement. More than half of the boxers and medallists who competed in Paris are affiliated with national federations that are members of World Boxing. It is making good progress on governance and has given assurances about its commercial position. While there is still work to be done, this is a step in the right direction. Let us be clear: we must do everything in our power to keep boxing on the Olympic programme. It is so important to many countries in our Olympic family.
Russia has hinted that it considers you the best candidate. Could this harm you?
One of the positive aspects of this campaign and election is that the hundred or so members who will choose the next president are able to do so in secret. This confidentiality preserves our independence and the IOC members will make their decisions based on what they think is good for the movement.
