With perception growing he can become the next IOC president Thursday, Juan Antonio Samaranch played down his possible status as favorite on the eve of voting. (More Sports News)
바카라I admire you guys very much for the capacity sometimes,바카라 Samaranch told reporters Wednesday, 바카라to predict what the result will be. I really don바카라t know.바카라
The most open presidential contest in the modern International Olympic Committee history is now widely seen as narrowing to three of the seven candidates: IOC vice president Samaranch and a pair of two-time Olympic gold medalists, Sebastian Coe and Kirsty Coventry.
Coventry, the 41-year-old sports minister of Zimbabwe, would be the first woman and first African to lead the IOC in its 131 years.
바카라I바카라m biased so I바카라m going to say yes,바카라 she said Wednesday, when asked if it was time for a female president. 바카라Let바카라s create some change, let바카라s make sure that happens.바카라
All the candidates and their voters are in the exclusive and invited club of IOC members currently numbering 109.
A theory among veteran Olympic watchers is Coventry, long seen as outgoing president Thomas Bach바카라s preferred choice, has a solid bloc of voters in the first round but short of an absolute majority to win.
Then, it is suggested, Samaranch will be well placed to pick up votes in each subsequent round when other candidates are eliminated. Also in the race are Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan, Johan Eliasch, David Lappartient and Morinari Watanabe.
The winner Thursday formally takes office on June 23 바카라 officially Olympic Day 바카라 as Bach reaches his maximum 12 years in office.
Elusive votes
The thoughts and voting intentions of IOC members are perhaps the most elusive of any sports politics body. Among them, the Emir of Qatar, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, princesses from Liechtenstein and Saudi Arabia, princes from Bhutan and Monaco, former lawmakers and diplomats including past presidents of Croatia and Costa Rica, plus sports officials and Olympic athletes.
바카라There is a lot of guesswork what is going on,바카라 said Prince Feisal, an IOC member for 15 years who sits on its executive board. 바카라I have got an extremely good chance.바카라
Coventry did not directly address a question Wednesday about Bach바카라s backing, though insisted campaigning was above board.
The Auburn University graduate urged voters 바카라to really think about what they want the movement to be represented by and match that with who they feel is the best candidate.바카라
Samaranch said votes were precious and confidential, and suggested voters must 바카라forget about바카라 pressures, recommendations and identity politics.
바카라Each one has to make sure that they use that important right they have to vote however they feel,바카라 he said.
Coe, who has a comprehensive track record as an athlete, former British lawmaker and 2012 London Olympics organizer, offered just brief comments when candidates ran a gauntlet of global media during a break on the first of three days of the IOC바카라s annual meeting.
바카라I바카라m in good shape but it바카라s only lunchtime,바카라 quipped the 68-year-old president of track and field바카라s World Athletics.
A tight campaign
An opaque five-month campaign tightly controlled by the IOC will see no formal presentations by candidates before voting starts Thursday at 4 p.m. local time in Greece (7:30바카라pm IST).
Just one formal campaign event was allowed, in January at IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the seven made 15-minute speeches and no questions were allowed.
바카라It would have been great to have that option,바카라 Lappartient, the French president of the International Cycling Union, said Wednesday. 바카라Then you can really feel the capacity of the candidate.바카라
The winner Thursday will be the 10th president in IOC history. The seventh was Samaranch바카라s father, also Juan Antonio Samaranch, who oversaw appointing some of these voters before his 21-year term ended in 2001.
Asked if family heritage was an advantage, Samaranch said: 바카라Not in this moment, I think I really have to concentrate on the future.바카라
The Spanish financier also suggested what will be the key challenge for the winner, with the 2026 Winter Games in northern Italy and the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games on the horizon.
바카라There is one and one only,바카라 Samaranch said. 바카라We must concentrate (on) successful and relevant Olympic Games. The rest comes with success in the games.바카라
