Race to become Olympics supremo set to go to the wire

The race to succeed Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee reaches a climax on Thursday with Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, Sebastian Coe and Kirsty Coventry believed to be neck and neck but clear of the remaining quartet.

Any of those three would be an historic winner in the election in Costa Navarino, Greece.

Samaranch would emulate his father of the same name and become the first father and son to be crowned president, World Athletics president Coe would be the first Briton and Zimbabwean Coventry the youngest at 41, and both the first woman and African.

Nevertheless surprises from the electorate of 100-plus IOC members cannot be ruled out in the battle to become the most powerful figure in sport.

Ski federation chief Johan Eliasch, Morinari Watanabe, president of the international gymnastics federation, cycling head David Lappartient and Prince Feisal al-Hussein make up the heavyweight field.

The vote takes place behind closed doors and just as in the award-winning film "Conclave" about cardinals choosing a new pope, all the IOC members will be obliged to leave their phones outside the room.

The candidates nerves will be jangling as they must sit through a session of IOC business before the vote gets underway at 1400 GMT.

The winner will be the first to get an absolute majority.

Just off the exclusive resort is the site of the 1827 naval battle in the Greek War of Independence which resulted in a heavy defeat for the Ottoman Empire.

This battle will be bloodless but it has got dirtier with the three main candidates targeted by personal attacks in the closing stages.

Whoever wins will take over a financially secure IOC, but those calm waters are muddied by a febrile geopolitical situation.

Adding to the potent mix, the new chief will have to deal with US President Donald Trump as Los Angeles hosts the next Summer Olympics in 2028.

Samaranch argues that in this "very complex world", where previously undisputed truths such as "universality, fraternity and unity" are now questioned, it is no time to take a leap in the dark.

The 65-year-old Spaniard, an assured and polished performer with over two decades as an IOC member, argues he would provide the steady hand at the tiller that is required.

"It is not about the face or the gender, or the continent," he told AFP.

"Even in the easiest of times, we should elect the best person for the job.

"This is too important and too relevant for too many people to experiment."

Samaranch Junior would take over an IOC radically different to the one his father did in 1980 and then ran for over two decades, effectively saving it with a radical transformation of its finances.

Samaranch, though, while praising his father for overseeing the saving of "Olympism", insists his era is not "remotely relevant today."

Coe appears to be seen by Bach as the disruptor candidate, which is perhaps surprising given many would view him as an establishment figure.

While Samaranch Junior brings a calm urbanity, two-time Olympic 1,500 metres champion Coe oozes charisma.

Coe, 68, also boasts an impressive CV. A former lawmaker for the centre-right Conservatives, he led London's successful bid to host the 2012 Games, surprising long-time front-runners Paris.

He then oversaw the highly-praised hosting of the Games and has been credited with reforming track and field's global body since becoming president in 2015.

Coe argues the IOC needs to do more "to create true and genuine commercial partners out of our athletes."

If he is to get his wish, he will have done so against the odds as Bach has reportedly been phoning members urging them not to vote for him.

Both Samaranch Junior and Coe have conducted high-profile media campaigns in contrast to Coventry's low-key strategy.

The seven-time Olympic swimming medallist is widely seen as being Bach's preferred candidate, something she denies.

Although Bach refused to be drawn on this on Monday, saying only that a new era "requires new leaders", a seriously ill IOC member has flown in to vote for Coventry.

Coventry says if she is elected it would be a huge moment for Africa as it would show "we're ready to lead".

If any of the candidates feel confident of votes in the bag, Samaranch's words will disabuse them of that notion.

"It's very easy in this world, so close a race, to confuse a smile for a vote, a friendship for a vote, a nice word for a vote," he said on Wednesday.