Sergey Bubka To Run For IOC Presidency
Former Olympic pole vault champion Sergey Bubka has announced he will enter the race to become the next president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Ukranian is the latest candidate to declare his intention to run for the position, with current president Jacques Rogge due to step down this September after 12 years at the helm.
The 49 year-old, who won six world titles along with his Olympic gold, will be the youngest candidate in the running. Since retiring he was elected as a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission in 2000 and was a member of the Executive Board until 2008 and was re-elected in 2012. He is also the president of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.
Bubka said: ‘As an athlete I was fortunate to have the right team around me, as coaches, as advisors, as friends. And this is my principle of life: even as an athlete doing an individual sport, you cannot succeed alone. Only together, we are strong. Only together, we will be able to address the challenges that lie ahead of us.’
Bubka added: ‘I believe that membership of the IOC brings with it obligations: to serve the world of sport; to preserve and evolve the great virtues on which Olympism stands; to listen and learn; and to react to the changing times to ensure that the Olympic values continue to reach and inspire a global population.’
