World Athletics chief Lord Coe, a candidate in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential race, said he is open to including some indoor sporting events in the Winter Games if elected.
The two-time Olympic 1500m champion released his manifesto on Thursday. He is one of seven candidates bidding to succeed Thomas Bach next year. “Innovation is critical; we have to be open to new ideas,” Coe told BBC Sport.
As World Athletics president, Coe is known for bold decisions and has pledged to bring change to the IOC, which he believes concentrates power among a select few.
“And some people have even suggested that we might want to look at the balance between the Winter and Summer Games. You have venues where some sports are indoors. You could, in theory, take them into another time of the year—maybe a Winter Games.”
“So these are all things I would encourage debate on, because only through debate can we discard ideas that may not work. Collaboration with winter sports and relevant organisations, such as the Association of National Olympic Committees and summer federations, is crucial. This needs to be a collaborative approach, but I think we should always be open to fresh thinking.”
Earlier, Coe highlighted India’s progress in hosting international events. The country will host a Continental Tour athletics event next August in Bhubaneswar and is bidding to stage the 2028 Under-20 World Championships.
Successful organisation of major events, according to Coe, helps India demonstrate a track record of delivering at the international level—an important factor in its bid to host the 2036 Summer Games.
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