Petros Kausiyo FOR more than six months, Kirsty Coventry has upscaled her campaign to conquer the world and make history by becoming the next International Olympic Committee president. Today, the Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and Africa’s most decorated Olympian will face six rivals – Sebatian Coe, Morinare Watanabe, Juan Antonio Samaranch, David Lappartient, Johan Eliasch and Feisal Al Hussein, in an election that has held global sport spellbound and is a defining moment in the history of the IOC. All seven candidates have been hard at working on their bids to win today’s election in Greece and secure the coveted IOC presidency. It’s the most powerful position in world sport. A position that guarantees the holder the right to rub shoulders with world leaders, to have a seat at the table at the United Nations, to live in luxury and be feted wherever they go. Such is the aura around the IOC presidency that the position is so highly guarded and only nine people have held the role in the 131-year history of the Movement. After 12 years in the top job, the term of German lawyer and Olympic gold medal fencer Thomas Bach has come to an end. Today, at a luxury Greek resort, more than 100 IOC members will vote to elect his successor for an eight-year term. Bach will stay in the job during a three-month handover to his successor until he waves his final goodbye. Insider conversations around the IOC polls over the last half year have installed Coventry among the three front-runners to succeed Bach, together with British two-time Olympic gold medallist in track cycling Sebastian Coe and Juan Antonio Samaranch, a Spanish investment banker, sports administrator and son of former IOC president who shares the same name. Amid the frenzy and anxiety related to such a big election, Coventry was in a relaxed and yet confident mood ahead of the D-Day. She told Zimpapers Sports Hub that she was proud to have been accorded the platform to share her vision for the IOC via her manifesto and the interactions that candidates get in the build-up to this kind of election. “This is an important moment for the Olympic Movement, and I’m proud of the vision I’ve shared with the members,’’ Coventry said. “I see this as an exciting opportunity. I’ve had great conversations with members, and I believe in what I’m bringing to the table. “My focus is on the future of sport and ensuring we continue to evolve while staying true to our core principles.” Coventry, whose manifesto was anchored on the Ubuntu mantra, “I am because of who you are, because of who you all are’’ once again insisted that the IOC poll was not about individuals. “This election is about shaping the future of the Olympic Movement. It’s not about one person, but about ensuring we have a strong, innovative, and athlete-focused vision for the years ahead. That’s what drives me, and that’s what I’m committed to,’’ added Coventry. The IOC have largely remained a closed shop where changes are not massive. Coventry, who won seven Olympic medals in swimming including gold in the 200 metre backstroke at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Games, is rumoured to be Bach’s choice. She is the only female candidate and the only one from Africa and will be a history maker if elected as not only the first African to be appointed to the presidency, but also the first woman in the IOC’s history. The 41-year-old would also become the youngest leader in the organisation’s history, as well as the first from outside Europe or North America. “Female leaders do bring different attributes, lessons learned and soft skills to the table – but I don’t want it to be the only thing that people focus on,” Coventry said in an interview with The Athletic. “I want to be the best person that people and members see leading our organisation, not a choice just based on gender.” A key focus of Coventry’s is supporting athletes financially on their journey to the Olympics, rather than simply waiting for endorsement deals once they have returned home with a medal, or medals, around their neck. One of her closest rivals in the race, Coe is currently head of World Athletics. His platform is based upon engaging young people, increasing transparency, strengthening the anti-doping system and prioritising athletes’ physical, financial and mental welfare. Coe is viewed as the most experienced option and is one of four candidates who is the head of an Olympic sports body with Eliasch from skiing, Lappartient from cycling, and Watanabe from gymnastics all in the race. Coventry, Samaranch and Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan – are all members of the IOC’s executive board. The vote is going to bring down the belief among the IOC members of who will navigate the pressing issues facing the Olympic Games in the coming years. Bach had to navigate the Covid-19 pandemic, Russian doping and Russian invasions of Ukraine in 2014, the same year they held the Winter Games in Sochi, and 2022, while the next leader is going to have to deal with the turbulent political landscape around the globe. Los Angeles is the next host of the Summer Games in 2028, and Donald Trump’s presidency is a challenge to the IOC’s Olympic values including gender equality and universal inclusion. The Trump regime’s hardline border stance may create problems with athletes, officials and fans obtaining visas into the United States, while tense relationships between the US and its long-time allies over tariffs and the Russo-Ukrainian War will need to be carefully managed. Trump has also threatened to strong arm the IOC into a universal ban on transgender athletes, after signing an executive order in January to impose the ban in the US. At least, the IOC will be able to observe next year’s men’s FIFA World Cup as a test case. “The new IOC president, whoever comes in, will need to say: ‘Just a reminder, this was in the host contract, this is what we expect, these are our values, this is why we awarded the Games to you and we’re not going to compromise on x, y and z’,” Coventry said of Trump during her interview in The Athletic. “While it’s not ideal, you’re always going to have politicians looking at sports events as a platform to get different messages across. “We, the IOC, need to ensure we remain neutral, which is easier said than done, but the only way that we can remain neutral is by ensuring our integrity – and our values – are upheld.” Russia’s standing in the Olympic movement bubbles away in the background after some athletes were banned from last year’s Paris Games. – Additional Reporting Fox News.