Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, has dismissed any suggestion of humiliation following his unsuccessful bid to become president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), instead reaffirming his commitment to the sport he leads.
Speaking at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, Coe addressed the media after finishing third in the IOC presidential vote held in Costa Navarino, Greece.
In a historic win, Kirsty Coventry, a former Olympic gold medalist swimmer from Zimbabwe, secured 49 of 97 votes to become the first African and first woman to lead the IOC. Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, a long-serving IOC member, garnered 28 votes, while Coe, a two-time Olympic 1500m champion, received only eight.
When asked if the result was a personal embarrassment, Coe was clear:
“No, I mean, I don’t think like that,” he told AFP. “I’m here. This is the centrepiece of Olympic sport and I’ve got a job to do.”
Coe emphasized that while he stood by the vision he presented to the IOC, his focus remains firmly on World Athletics, where he has two years left in his current term.
“I thought I could make a contribution, but that’s not going to be the way,” Coe said. “I flew from Greece last night and I’m here. I’ve got a big job.”
He also reaffirmed his support for the Olympic movement and President Coventry, stating:
“We will continue to be good partners of the movement, and supportive of whoever is president, which we will be.”
Coe, 68, highlighted his priorities for the remainder of his mandate:
Growing the sport globally
Maintaining strong governance
Upholding the democratic voice of member federations
Driving forward successful commercial programs
World Athletics is currently ramping up its Asian expansion, starting with the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. Coe called the event “huge” and part of a broader commitment to Asia, where several key competitions are scheduled.
“This is the first of three major Chinese cities that are hosting our events,” Coe noted.
Beijing will host the World Outdoor Championships in 2027, Yangzhou will welcome the World Road Running Championships the same year, and Guangzhou will stage the World Relays in 2025.
Looking ahead, Coe also mentioned the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, emphasizing the significance of hosting the event with full stadiums post-pandemic.
“Asia is hugely important to us,” Coe added, underlining the region’s potential to drive global growth in athletics.
Despite the setback at the IOC, Coe appears undeterred and fully focused on his “day job” — steering athletics into a strong, inclusive, and commercially thriving future.
