Denis Oswald announced Friday his candidacy for International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, becoming the fifth candidate in the race to succeed Jacques Rogge.
Sixty-six-year-old Oswald is head of the international rowing federation. He sent a letter to IOC members announcing his decision to run, and said, “my 40 years of service to the Olympic movement have provided me with a comprehensive understanding of our organization as well as its role and significance to the wider world.
“This knowledge and experience….will enable me to advance the Olympic cause and enhance the IOC’s authority as the leader of world sport.”
Oswald said he decided to run for the presidency “with great honour and humility”. He notes he competed as a rower in three Olympics, was head of the international rowing federation FISA, and has served in several high-profile IOC positions.
Oswald has been an IOC member since 1991. He competed in rowing at the 1968, 1972, and 1976 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the fours event in Mexico City in 1968.
He’s been president of rowing federation FISA since 1989 with his term ending later this year. He served as head of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations from 2000-2012, which gave him a place on the policy-making IOC executive board for that period.
He was chairman of the co-ordination commissions of the Athens 2004 and London 20122 Games.
Oswald joins Thomas Bach of Germany, Ng Ser Miang of Singapore, Richard Carrion of Puerto Rico and C.K. Wu of Taiwan.
