85-Year-Old Franco Carraro Emerges as Key Candidate in CONI Election

ROME (AP) — In a pivotal moment for Italian sports governance, 85-year-old Franco Carraro, a former member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has emerged as a crucial candidate in the upcoming election for the presidency of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI). The election is set to take place on Thursday, amid a backdrop of intense rivalry between two leading candidates: Luciano Buonfiglio and Luca Pancalli. The outcome of this election will significantly impact the organization of the forthcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Carraro, who previously served three terms as CONI president from 1978 to 1987, is viewed as a potential peacemaker in a divided election landscape. Buonfiglio, the current president of the Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation, has garnered the support of outgoing CONI president Giovanni Malagò, while Pancalli, who leads the Italian Paralympic Committee, is backed by Sports Minister Andrea Abodi. Both candidates claim to possess the requisite 41 votes needed for an outright majority in the first round of voting, setting the stage for a potentially extended election process if no candidate secures the necessary support.

The electoral commission permitted Carraro’s candidacy despite earlier term limits, acknowledging his prior service before the new regulations were enacted. Carraro's extensive career in sports administration, spanning over seven decades, includes significant roles such as the presidency of the Italian soccer federation and serving as a senator in Italy. His return to the electoral fray has prompted discussions about age and leadership within Italian sports, especially considering the recent nomination by Abodi that stated, "Time passes for everything."

In addition to Carraro, Buonfiglio, and Pancalli, five other candidates are contesting the presidency, though they are not expected to gain substantial traction. Notably, none of the candidates are women, raising concerns over gender representation in Italian sports leadership. With 80 potential voters in total, a candidate must secure 41 votes to win outright in the first round. In subsequent rounds, a majority of those present will determine the victor.

The importance of this election is underscored by the upcoming sporting events under CONI’s purview, including the America’s Cup sailing competition in Naples in 2027, the Winter Youth Olympics in 2028, and the co-hosting of the European Championship by Italy and Turkey in 2032. As the election approaches, all eyes are on the candidates and the strategic moves they will make in pursuit of leadership in Italian sports governance.