Synopsis
Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. aims to modernize the Olympic Movement while preserving its core values. His six-pillar manifesto emphasizes governance, sustainability, athlete welfare, inclusivity, and refinement of the host city selection process.Key Takeaways
- Samaranch proposes to extend the IOC member retirement age from 70 to 75.
- He emphasizes empowering IOC members in decision-making.
- There is a focus on maintaining the integrity of the Olympic brand.
- Inclusion of transgender athletes is a priority with a focus on fair competition.
- Flexibility in scheduling and venue selection is essential due to climate change.
Harbin (China), Feb 11 (NationPress) International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential hopeful Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. has expressed his ambition to rejuvenate the Olympic Movement while preserving its fundamental values. Samaranch's manifesto is centered around six essential pillars, highlighting governance, sustainability, athlete welfare, and inclusivity, alongside a proposal to refine the host city selection process.
"The members must reclaim the authority to determine which cities host the Games," Samaranch told Xinhua during his visit to Harbin for the ongoing Asian Winter Games. "Members should actively participate in the formulation and discussion of key IOC policies, which can be achieved through more constructive IOC sessions."
By empowering IOC members with enhanced decision-making powers and offering substantial technical support to candidate cities, Samaranch envisions a more transparent selection process that guarantees the Games' legacy is in alignment with the IOC's core values, reports Xinhua.
Currently, IOC members are required to retire at 70, with exceptions for those elected before 1999. Samaranch proposes increasing this limit to 75, which would restore equality among members and allow seasoned members to contribute their expertise for an extended duration.
"Being 70 years old today is akin to being 60 years old 25 years ago, when this policy was implemented," stated the 65-year-old Spaniard.
"I believe we are missing out on a significant amount of talent as individuals who enter the IOC later must navigate through the ranks of their International Federations, National Olympic Committees, or sports. They typically join the IOC in their mid-60s, at which point they have just begun to understand our operations.
"This is a loss of talent that we cannot afford. Therefore, the age limit must be raised to 75," he added.
Safeguarding the Olympic brand from political and economic pressures is a primary concern. Samaranch emphasized the necessity of preserving the integrity of the Games while promoting innovation in sponsorship and marketing. He proposed the establishment of a sports investment fund and the initiation of an Olympic Donor Program, as well as a review of broadcast rights and modernization of the TOP Program, affirming that "Olympic values are increasingly appealing to business leaders."
Beyond governance reforms, Samaranch stressed the importance of ongoing engagement between Olympic cycles, viewing initiatives such as the Youth Olympic Games and Olympic Qualifier Series as valuable tools, but advocating for an assessment of their long-term effects.
Regarding inclusivity, Samaranch highlighted the significance of ensuring fair and safe competition, while addressing the complexities surrounding the integration of transgender athletes. "They should be welcomed and supported in their sports participation," said Samaranch. "However, when it comes to competition, we must maintain fairness and safety. If transgender athletes provide an unfair advantage in competition, that cannot be permitted," he added.
In light of climate change and geographical challenges, Samaranch underscored the necessity for flexibility in the scheduling and selection of venues for the Games. He proposed balancing universality with the need to maintain the communal spirit of the Olympics, anchored by the Olympic Village.
IOC members are set to elect a successor to incumbent president Thomas Bach at the IOC Session in Greece from March 18-21.
