Withering whispers of IOC members: ABB. Anything But Bach?
First of all. What one of my readers recommended:
11 Popes – 8 Presidents in past 119 years.Fascinating if sometimes off base, commentary on Olymic elections http://t.co/nNHji4r2fZ #Olympics
— Michael.R Payne (@MichaelRPayne1) June 25, 2013
… says Michael R. Payne, longtime IOC marketing director, „father of olympic branding“.
Here’s the analysis, written for my friends at Play the Game, sometimes off base :), but widely independent from spin doctors.
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[caption id="attachment_16086" align="aligncenter" width="1536"] IOC headquarter, Lausanne[/caption]The Catholic Church has had eleven popes since 1894. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had just eight presidents since its birth in 1894.
Eleven popes. Eight IOC presidents. In 119 years.
That says a lot about continuity in the so-called Olympic family.
Elections do not take place very often in the IOC. But this year, on 10 September at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, the successor to the incumbent Belgian Jacques Rogge (71) will be elected. The members have the choice, in the true sense of the word choice. It’s about the most important post of world sport. Six men want the power and want to be the ninth president in the history of the IOC. Of course the IOC is far from ready for a female president.
The six aspirants for the crown all have an extended background in sports administration. Some of them are very rich. Three of them have been Olympic athletes. With Bach and Bubka there are two Olympic champions among the candidates.
In the official Olympic language it has been said that all of them are strong candidates.
But in reality: some are stronger than others.
In June 2013 there is one frontrunner, one favourite.