Exciting Times at the Ancient Home of the Olympics! 🏛️
Hey there, sports fans! Have you ever wondered where the Olympics all began? This week, something super exciting is happening at Olympia in Greece—the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games! 🏟️
The International Olympic Committee (that’s the IOC for short) has gathered for their 144th big meeting. But guess what? They’re not just there to talk; they’re about to choose a brand-new president! 🤩
Why is this a big deal? Well, the president of the IOC helps decide lots of important things about the Olympics, like where the Games will be held and how they can make sports fair and fun for everyone. 🌍
On Thursday, IOC members from all over the world will vote to pick the new leader. There are seven amazing candidates running for the job:
- David Lappartient 🇫🇷 – He leads the International Cycling Union. 🚴♂️
- Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. 🇪🇸 – He’s the Vice President of the IOC right now. 🏅
- Sebastian Coe 🇬🇧 – The boss of World Athletics and a former Olympic champion! 🏃♂️
- Kirsty Coventry 🇿🇼 – She’s the Sports Minister of Zimbabwe and won Olympic gold medals in swimming! 🏊♀️
- Prince Feisal Al Hussein 🇯🇴 – A prince from Jordan who loves sports! 🏀
- Morinari Watanabe 🇯🇵 – He leads the International Gymnastics Federation. 🤸♂️
- Johan Eliasch 🇸🇪 – The head of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation. ⛷️
The current president, Thomas Bach 🇩🇪, has been leading the IOC for 12 years! That’s like being class president from kindergarten all the way to high school! Now, he’s stepping down to let someone else take the lead. 🎓
On Tuesday, Mr. Bach said this meeting is like a “sacred pilgrimage” to the Olympics’ ancient roots. Pretty cool, right? 🌟
No one knows who will win yet, but many think that Sebastian Coe, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., and Kirsty Coventry have a good chance. It’s like the suspense before a big game! 🏆
So, keep an eye out for the big news on Thursday. Who do you think will become the next IOC president? Share your thoughts! 🤔
The new president will serve for eight years, with a chance to serve four more. That’s a long time to make the Olympic Games even more awesome! 🎉
Stay tuned for more updates on the world of sports! 📰
Reference(s):
IOC Session opens in ancient Olympia as Presidential election looms
cgtn.com
