Cramped conditions in media room at futuristic Olympic House limit number of journalists at hustings to just 30; those present in Lausanne could get a maximum of 10 minutes with each candidate; those attending virtually unable to ask questions…

Journalists have questioned the regulations for the International Olympic Committee Presidential elections after hustings held behind closed doors in Lausanne.

A record seven candidates bidding to replace the current Olympic supremo Thomas Bach include Lord Sebastian Coe and International Ski Federation leader Johan Eliasch, born in Sweden but now a British citizen.
Leading writers including Matt Lawton of The Times, The Guardian’s Sean Ingle and Duncan Mackay of The Zeus Files (a new Olympic newsletter) were among those who travelled to Lausanne where media sessions were limited to 10 minutes with each candidate.
Access to the media room in Olympic House was restricted to 30 reporters because of space limitations.
Although the sessions described as a “media interaction” were screened online, those who followed remotely were unable to ask questions.

“I’ve been in politics a long time, I’ve found it a fairly unproductive process to pick a fight with a returning officer in the process, it’s the same for everybody,” said Coe, the first British candidate for the leadership since Lord Burghley, Marquess of Exeter, ran for the position over 60 years ago.
“I do think we need to review and I am sure that whoever succeeds in March will want to look at that and other things too.”

The strict rules of access had been drawn up by the IOC Ethics commission chaired by former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
A further regulation stipulated that “no other press conference or any other formal meeting with the media shall be organised by the candidates inside or outside Olympic House.
“However, after the media interaction, the candidates may respond to media questions by phone or video call. “

“If I was President, I would be a little more flexible,” admitted Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan, the first Presidential candidate to face the media.
“At the end of the day, you have got to recognise that we are part of the global sports community, in fairness, transparency and integrity, the world has a right to know who is running and what they stand for.”
Juan Antonio Samaranch of Spain, considered one of the leaders in the race, revealed he had advocated better relations with journalists in his presentation at the in-camera session.
“Let’s refocus our relationship with the media, they are not our enemies, they are our allies,” Samaranch told journalists. ”You shape the opinion of the world on the Olympic Games.
“If I become IOC President, I intend to maintain this and you can keep me to account for that.”
The Presidential vote is scheduled to take place on March 20th at the IOC Session in the Greek resort of Costa Navarino although the successful candidate will not officially take office until a formal handover session in Lausanne on ‘Olympic Day’, June 23rd.
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