- Title: PROFILE: Johan Eliasch, from billionaire businessman to IOC boss?
- Date: 13th March 2025
- Summary: LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND (JANUARY 30, 2025) (REUTERS) IOC ENTRANCE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL SKI FEDERATION AND IOC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, JOHAN ELIASCH, ENTERING IOC BUILDING INTERVIEW WITH IOC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOHAN ELIASCH IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) IOC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, JOHAN ELIASCH, SAYING: "This is a very special position, and yes, sport has th
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- Keywords: IOC IOC Presidential candidate Johan Eliasch
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Sweden
- Topics: Europe,Olympics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA002876004022025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Johan Eliasch, a 62-year-old Swedish-British businessman, is hoping to upset the odds by becoming IOC President next Thursday (March 20).
One of the outsiders in the field of seven, he is currently the President of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and a former Special Representative of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
An IOC member since 2004, he was chief executive of sportswear brand Head, and founded Cool Earth, a charity dedicated to rainforest conservation.
His fortune is estimated to be around £4billion.
Some of his manifesto pledges are:
* In a world of high expectations and forensic scrutiny of the IOC, we must ensure our organisation is dynamic and businesslike. Successful organisations which have sustained success are built on rock-solid foundations, such as a strong focus on governance, clearly defined areas of responsibility, accountability, and authority throughout the organization, strategic thinking, with clearly articulated objectives, a culture of collaboration, creativity and innovation and succession planning. The IOC must be no different.
* In a world of fast-changing technologies, we must stay ahead of the commercial curve and get more for less. In the coming years we must strike the right balance between sponsorship goals, television rights exploitation, digital strategies and new commercialization models.
* In a world divided by politics, poverty and inequality, we must unite around our values. We must uphold the precious principle of political neutrality and we must safeguard athletes from being weaponised for political purposes.
* The IOC must lead on the issue of gender and eligibility, creating the framework for international federations. The IOC should lead the way, establishing a simple and clear policy to ensure a fair and safe environment for all athletes, particularly women.
* Would the benefits of prize money for Olympic athletes outweigh the drawbacks? Our movement is about celebrating human excellence and endurance; athletes devoting years to producing their best possible performance and receiving rewards far deeper than money: national pride, personal glory and their competitors’ respect. We must ask ourselves: is introducing prize money consistent with this spirit? And is it necessary?
* How can we make the Games more attractive to younger generations – and how can we engage them more than once every couple of years? The IOC must explore ways to boost the Olympic profile between the Games. E sports may seem distinctive in many ways from Olympic sport, but their fast-growing popularity offers a glimpse of a tantalising future in which Olympic values are leveraged to reach a larger and younger audience.
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