Sebastian Coe would entertain a bid from Saudi Arabia to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games if he was elected the next president of the International Olympic Committee.
Coe, a double Olympic champion and current president of World Athletics, is among the seven vying to replace Thomas Bach as IOC president and sees himself unabashedly as a candidate for the next development.
The manifestos of the seven candidates were released by the IOC on Thursday morning and, at a press conference to launch his plan, Coe was clear about his desire to truly democratize the IOC.
The candidates will present their manifestos in front of the full membership of the IOC at the end of January before the vote to elect a new IOC president at the IOC session in Greece between 18-21 March 2025.
As president of World Athletics, Coe has dealt with a number of difficult issues such as doping, the Russian ban and the protection of female athletes and the women's division, experience which he believes equips him to take on the most powerhouse in world sports.
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Lord Seb Coe tells senior Sky Sports reporter Geraint Hughes that he has 'never been better prepared for a race' than he is for his campaign to become the new president of the International Olympic Committee
Why is Coe running?
If elected, Coe would see being president of the IOC as a passion, not a job. He said it was 'a dance he couldn't sit out' and previously told Sky Sports it was a role he believed was born for him.
Coe was one of athletics' leading middle-distance runners throughout the 1970s and 80s, winning two Olympic gold medals at the Moscow and Los Angeles Games. In 1979 he broke three world records – 800m, 1500m and a mile – in 41 days – with the 800m record he set in 1981 lasting 16 years.
As a sports administrator, 19 years ago he persuaded the IOC to grant London the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In the days and weeks leading up to the vote for these games, London appeared to be behind Paris and Madrid, but Coe's political experience won the IOC over.
After delivering the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Coe ran for election as president of the IAAF, the world governing body of Athletics in 2015. Winning the election, he took over a somewhat troubled sport under the leadership of former president, Lamine Diack.
Coe changed the name of the governing body from the IAAF to World Athletics and, controversially at the time, banned Russia from international athletics for state-sponsored doping.
Lord Sebastian Coe seeks Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee
What does Coe want to do?
Coe believes there is “too much power in the hands of too few people” within the IOC.
He should be president, he is not looking for a revolution because he admits there are some “very good people” within the IOC, but he wants reform big
He says the IOC is out of balance and needs to be repositioned around sports. Sport and the athletes must be at the heart and center of all decisions along with the entire membership of the IOC. He wants to be in charge of cooperative leadership.
Issues to deal with Coe?
Coe caused some confusion at the 2024 Paris Olympics when he announced that track and field athletes would receive prize money.
It saw gold medalists receive US$50,000, the first time prize money had been officially awarded at the Olympics, with Coe believing that athletes should benefit from the financial prizes available at the Olympics.
As president of World Athletics, he has overseen a policy defining the 'female category' which has prevented transgender women from competing in that category. The rule states that “any transgender athlete who has undergone male genital mutilation would not be allowed to compete in female world-class competitions. “
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Sky Sports News reporter Geraint Hughes explains why Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is taking legal action against media reports in France.
If Coe becomes the new IOC president, issues of protecting the 'women's division' and prize money will be addressed.
He wants to discuss and collaborate on new policies for the IOC and believes that if the organization had a clear policy on transgender athletes and those with DSD (differences in sexual development) in Paris 2024, the controversy and bad news would be around two female boxers. are avoided.
Coe says he is very concerned about climate change, but believes sport has a special role in sustainability and changing attitudes with the Olympics as the marquee 'Mega Sporting Event' alongside the FIFA World Cup.
Many people think that big sporting events have a negative impact on climate change, but Coe believes that the platform can drive change especially through a younger generation who are concerned about climate change.
What is Coe's stance on Russia?
Russia is currently banned by the IOC, with only athletes from Russia and Belarus allowed to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics as neutral athletes.
Only 32 neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus competed in Paris, none of whom were allowed to display any affiliation with Russia or Belarus, logos, flags or any anthem played.
The IOC had banned Russia and Belarus due to the war in Ukraine and the annexation of four regions within Ukraine.
World Athletics, chaired by Seb Coe, went one step further at Paris 2024 with track and field athletes from these countries not allowed to compete even as neutral athletes.
Could Saudi Arabia host the Olympics?
Saudi Arabia has been announced as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup
The short answer is yes.
Many people and organizations have expressed concern over the awarding of the 2034 FIFA World Cup to Saudi Arabia due to human rights concerns within the Kingdom.
If elected IOC president, Coe's position on Saudi Arabia's interest in hosting the Olympics and Paralympics is that he would listen and speak.
Coe said he believes it's better to distract than shy away from difficult conversations, and he expects to have robust discussions about issues such as human rights.
He also believes the IOC would have to consider moving the summer Olympics from the traditional northern hemisphere summer months to winter if heat and athlete welfare became a problem.
Kirsty Coventry, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Johan Eliasch, HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, David Lappartient and Morinari Watanabeare are vying with Coe for the IOC presidency
Who is Coe up against?
Six other candidates are trying to become the next president of the IOC.
Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe is the only female candidate. Coventry was a decorated Olympic swimmer, winning gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. After her retirement she has been heavily involved in sports administration, giving her -into being the Minister of Sports in Zimbabwe.
Another known name is the Spanish Juan Antonio Samaranch. He is the son of a former IOC President who gave his name. Samaranch Snr was the IOC President for 21 years between 1980 and 2001.
Other contenders include another British hopeful, Johan Eliasch, who is currently president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, David Lappartient of France, who heads -sitting on the UCI – cycling's world governing body – and Japan's Morinari Watanabe.
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