Track and field athlete Shubenkov compared the IOC election to an episode of the cartoon "South Park"

Russian track and field athlete Sergey Shubenkov compared the upcoming election of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president to an episode of the American comedy cartoon "South Park". This is reported by Sport-Express on February 8.

"It's like 'South Park' - we're going to have an election between a stupid enema and a shit sandwich. I really don't know. Well, let it be Samaranch Jr. The only thing in which I agree with Coe, perhaps it may even sound redolent: athletics should be divorced by species," Shubenkov said when asked about candidates for the post of IOC president.

The track and field athlete also noted that sprinting, endurance, pushing, throwing and other competitions do not coexist well together in this sport. According to him, competitions should be held in separate species, as there will be more prospects in this.

The athlete performed at the international tournament "Russian Winter" in Moscow after a 10-year break. He took fourth place in the 60m hurdles final with a time of 7.73 seconds, repeating his best result of the season. He said he plans to travel to Mogilev for the Republic of Belarus championships and then to the Russian track and field championships.

The election of the IOC president will be held at the 144th session of the organization, which will be held in Costa Navarino in Greece from 19 to 21 March.

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Earlier, on September 16, 2024, it became known that the list of candidates for the post of head of the IOC included the head of the International Association of Athletics Federations (World Athletics) Sebastian Coe and Vice President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Juan Antonio Samaranch - Jr, as well as Zimbabwe's Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry, International Ski and Snowboard Federation President Johan Eliasch, International Cycling Union head David Lapartien, International Gymnastics Federation head Morinari Watanabe and Jordan's Olympic Committee head Faisal bin Hussein.

On August 10, IOC President Thomas Bach said during the 142nd session of the organization that he was not going to be re-elected. The high standards of governance that have been set must be maintained, he said. Bach's term of office will end in 2025.