World Athletics Launches 2027 Election Cycle
The global governing body for athletics, World Athletics, has officially launched the campaign period for its 2027 leadership elections, marking a pivotal transition following governance reforms that limit presidential terms.
The nomination process for the 2027 Council elections is now open ahead of the Elective Congress in Beijing, China, scheduled for September 2027. The session will see elections for a president, four vice presidents, and 13 individual council members for the 2027–2031 term.
The campaign period officially commenced on Sunday, with prospective candidates required to undergo a rigorous eligibility process. Applications must be submitted to the independent Vetting Panel by March 31, 2027, and only those declared eligible can be formally nominated by their Member Federation boards before the June 1, 2027 deadline.
This election will mark the end of Sebastian Coe’s presidency. Coe, who introduced sweeping governance reforms in 2016, is limited to a maximum of three four-year terms. Having been elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019 and 2023, he will step down at the conclusion of this term. Reflecting on his tenure, Coe said:
“Leading World Athletics over the last decade has been an immense honour. As elected members to govern athletics, we are caretakers doing all we can to improve and grow our sport so that we can hand it over to others in the best shape possible.”
While the final candidate list will not be confirmed until 2027, the succession race is already taking shape. Ximena Restrepo, the current Senior Vice President, has emerged as a primary contender for the presidency. In September, Restrepo publicly confirmed her intention to run, aiming to become the first female president of World Athletics.
The Chilean-Colombian Olympic medallist, who previously made history as the first woman to serve as vice president and later senior vice president, described her candidacy as a natural progression in her commitment to athletics. Her ambition aligns with her growing influence in global sports governance, including her recent election to the ASOIF Council.
To ensure transparency and integrity, the election will be overseen by two independent bodies: the Election Oversight Panel, supervising campaign conduct, and the Vetting Panel, confirming that candidates meet the organisation’s high integrity standards. All candidates are bound by the World Athletics Integrity Code of Conduct, and the process includes multiple opportunities for leadership hopefuls to engage with the global membership.
The 2027 election cycle represents a historic moment for World Athletics, promising both continuity and fresh leadership as the sport moves into a new decade.
BY TIMES REPORTER
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