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The last vestiges of the archaic notion of amateurism are falling away. The NCAA may be the final “amateur” organization left standing by the time March 2025 rolls around.
Now, World Athletics president, Lord Sebastian Coe, has begun the process of paying Olympic medallists. In athletics, World Athletics started to pay gold medallists during the 2024 Paris Games. For Los Angeles 2028, silver and bronze winners will begin to earn money and Coe may not be done yet. He promises a number of changes — a disruption if you will. The first priority may be the rules about women’s competition.
Sebastian Coe, who is running to become the next IOC president, says the organization needs clear-cut policies to protect women's sports to avoid scandals such as the one in boxing at this year's Paris Games. https://t.co/6ZQXdM0gDE
— Japan Times: Sports (@jt_sports) November 20, 2024
Firstly, Coe, has offered to pay all Olympic medallists if he becomes president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). If the people voted in the election, this would be an effective campaign promise. Let’s see how the IOC membership votes in March.
Coe has stated his position on a number of other matters related to sport. For example, he wants clear and concise language and policies on who may compete in women’s sports. The protection of women’s sports is a non-negotiable for Coe.
When the IOC took over the running of amateur boxing for the Paris Olympics, it became apparent that there was a lack of clarity with who could compete in the women’s category and the Games were handcuffed to do anything. One moment in the spotlight was the awarding of the gold medal to Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who had previously been banned after adverse sex chromosome tests.
“I felt uncomfortable with that,” Coe said. “I think the lesson was that you need clear-cut policies and the present framework is not anywhere near clear enough. For me, it’s a non-negotiable. If you do not protect that category (women’s sport) or are in any way ambivalent about it, then it will not end well for women’s sport.”
Coe has six other candidates, and his age is running against him.
The election
Seven candidates will compete in the election for the presidency of the IOC. In March, the 144th IOC Session will be held from the 18th to the 21st in Greece. The candidates will make presentations to the full IOC membership at the meeting to be held in Lausanne (Switzerland) 30 January 30, 2025, on camera.
The voting will take place by way of a secret ballot during the IOC meeting. The voters are made up of the 111 active IOC members, but probably fewer than 100 will be permitted to vote because the candidate’s fellow countrypersons are not eligible.
Coe is the current favourite and most experienced. He is an Olympic medallist and has been a member of the FIFA Ethics Committee, a Member of the British Parliament, World Athletics president and is a member in good standing with the IOC, which is a prerequisite to run for the presidency.
The age question
His age is of concern. As it is for another candidate, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., who is currently 65, Coe is 67. IOC Presidents are not permitted to run past 70 and they have their (up to) 12-year terms limited when surpassing the benchmark.
Coe was re-elected as president of World Athletics for his third and final term in August of 2023. The election was held at the Budapest World Athletics Championships, World Athletics Congress.
At the time, the 66-year-old former 1500-metre world record holder and Olympic gold medallist earned 192 of 195 votes with three abstaining. That is a 98.5 per cent yes vote. The election took place on Thursday, August 17 in Hungary’s capital city, the site of the Budapest World Athletics Championships.
