Lord Coe by no means had an opportunity in Olympics race with Robert Mugabe’s ‘golden lady’

The general feeling is that sport and politics should never mix.

But when it comes to deciding who the most powerful person in the world of sport should be, the two remain inseparable but uncomfortable bedfellows.

When Donald Trump can become elected American president once – let alone twice – it’s impossible not to think the world has gone mad. So perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised by the questionable, and that’s being kind, race staged in Greece this week to find a new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

If reports are to be believed, events in Costa Navarino have been something akin to the work of the KGB, CIA and MAFIA combined. Secret meetings. Smear campaigns. Deepfake videos. Allegations of misconduct and acts of pressured bullying cast dark stains on the entire process.

The Olympic motto is ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius – which translated means ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together’. Do me a favour.

Ruling the IOC might make someone the most famous sports volunteer on the planet. But the power, privileges and financial gains that come with the role are said to be priceless. So forget being ‘together’. Think back stabbing instead.

Because most of those desperate to succeed the outgoing president Thomas Bach appeared willing to trample over anyone and anything to cross the line first. Lord Coe might have won two gold medals during his glorious career on the track. But this was a race he never stood a chance of winning.

Coe is seen as a reformer. He tends to get things done. But history has taught us the IOC prefer to choose the status quo ahead of significant change. As shown in their attitudes towards doping scandals, human rights violations, political situations and athletes’ rights.

Never mind accusations of corruption, financial scandals, hypocrisy and a general ignorance stretching to Bach once referring to Japanese people as ‘Chinese’, the German power freak just did what he wanted. In his personal fiefdom, consequences didn’t exist.

So throwing his weight behind a winning candidate who once took a sizeable ‘donation’ from Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe, won’t have registered on Bach’s conscience. If he even has one.

Kirsty Coventry was the sports minister of a government which took power after elections were labelled corrupt by human rights campaigners. As well as pocketing seven Olympic medals as a swimmer, Coventry also trousered £50,000 in cash from Mugabe, who called her “a golden girl”.

While competing against Coventry and Coe was Juan Antonio Samaranch. The reigning vice president, and son of a former IOC president who oversaw the worst corruption scandal in Games history ahead of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

It’s tempting to suggest a section of the public, or an elected committee of respected former Olympians, should get to decide who the IOC president should be. But then again, Boris Johnson once got voted into power, and look how that turned out?

So here we are, with sports lovers now moving forward having to stomach Coventry ruling the IOC. As we head towards an Olympics taking place in Los Angeles in 2028, in a nation which will still be ruled by Trump. What could possibly go wrong?

But if this prospect fills you with a certain level of dread, consider this. With a moral compass like the IOC’s, what price the greatest sports show on earth taking place in Saudi Arabia in the not too distant future?