The Race to Olympia: a trio of unsung influencers

The campaign to succeed Thomas Bach as IOC President is being played out mainly in the shadows which makes deciphering who is leading a difficult task and a race where tiny margins matter

International Olympic Committee elections are strange, unfathomable, mysterious affairs. They are extremely select, with the electorate usually totalling around 100. There are no reliable opinion polls. The factors adding up to determine how each vote is cast will vary from member to member, even among those who plump for the same city or individual.

With seven candidates, and over 30 members who have joined in the last five years, the current Presidential race is more unfathomable than most. Members could cast as many as six votes, perhaps even more if tiebreakers are needed. The odd vote here or there at a critical juncture could well be the difference between success and failure.

Against this backdrop, I thought it would be interesting to focus for a moment on three individuals who might have a bearing on the outcome, without necessarily even doing anything.