中华时报/中华新闻网/中华新闻通讯社（赵雪湄）今年66岁的渡边守成，现任国际体操联合会（FIG）主席，是本届国际奥委会（IOC）主席选举中最具争议的候选人。他不仅是首位参选IOC主席的日本人，如果成功当选，还将成为IOC历史上首位亚洲籍主席。这一突破性的身份，让他的竞选备受关注。
在全球局势紧张之际，渡边选择站在最前线。他临时调整行程，亲赴战火中的乌克兰基辅，以示对乌克兰体操运动员的支持。他表示，体育必须为和平作出贡献，而现在这种信念比以往更加强烈。
他甚至计划前往莫斯科，希望体育能成为国际局势中的沟通桥梁。他认为1971年乒乓外交在美中关系中发挥了重要作用，强调体育在国家间紧张局势中能发挥独特的调和作用。
渡边的竞选主张中，最具颠覆性的是“五大洲奥运会”构想。他提出，未来奥运会可由五个大洲的五座城市共同承办，减轻主办国的经济负担，并扩大奥运的全球化影响力。
他还希望将IOC转型为“世界体育组织”，让其职能超越奥运会，成为全球体育治理的重要平台。此外，他主张利用人工智能优化裁判判罚，并承诺提供更多资源支持发展中国家的体育事业。
然而，相较于其他候选人，渡边的背景显得非传统。他并非来自田径、游泳等奥运核心项目，而是从体操领域崛起。他的体育管理经验相对较短，曾长期负责零售企业的体育事业部，在国际体育治理圈的根基远不及其他候选人深厚。
这使他的竞选之路充满挑战。尽管他的改革理念富有创新，但日本国内和国际体育媒体对他的当选普遍持怀疑态度。相比其他候选人，他的竞选资源和传统支持力量相对较弱。
然而，这正是他的独特之处。如果当选，他不仅将成为首位来自体操界的IOC主席，更将成为首位亚洲籍主席，打破奥运百余年来的领导格局。他的愿景涵盖奥运模式改革、体育外交以及科技在体育领域的应用。
3月20日，IOC主席选举将在希腊举行。渡边守成能否凭借其大胆出位的改革主张，为奥运带来新的可能，为亚洲在国际体育治理中开辟新篇章？让我们静待答案揭晓……
By May Zhao
At 66 years old, Morinari Watanabe, the current President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), is one of the most controversial candidates in this year’s International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential election. If elected, he would not only become the first Japanese candidate to run for IOC President but also the first Asian to hold this prestigious position in IOC history. This groundbreaking possibility has made his candidacy a focal point of global attention.
Amid rising geopolitical tensions, Watanabe has chosen to stand on the front lines. He adjusted his schedule at the last minute to visit war-torn Kyiv, Ukraine, showing solidarity with Ukrainian gymnasts. “Sports must contribute to peace, and this belief has never been stronger than it is now,” he stated.
He even plans to visit Moscow, advocating for sports as a bridge for international dialogue. He sees parallels with the 1971 Ping Pong Diplomacy, which played a key role in thawing relations between the U.S. and China, and stresses that sports can serve as a unique tool for easing tensions between nations.
Among Watanabe’s boldest proposals is the “Five-Continent Olympics” concept. He envisions five cities across five continents jointly hosting the Olympics, aiming to reduce the financial burden on a single host nation while expanding the Games’ global reach.
Additionally, he proposes transforming the IOC into a “World Sports Organization,” broadening its influence beyond the Olympics and positioning it as a key player in global sports governance. He also advocates for using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance officiating fairness and has pledged greater support for sports development in underprivileged nations.
However, compared to his rivals, Watanabe’s background is unconventional. Unlike candidates from traditional Olympic powerhouse sports such as athletics or swimming, he comes from gymnastics, a discipline with less direct influence in global sports governance. His experience in sports administration is relatively limited, having spent much of his career overseeing the sports division of a retail company, which makes his network within IOC leadership circles far less extensive than that of his competitors.
This makes his path to victory highly challenging. While his reformist ideas have drawn attention, Japanese and international sports media remain skeptical about his chances. He lacks the deep-rooted support and resources that other candidates command.
Yet, this very outsider status is also what sets him apart. If elected, Watanabe would not only be the first IOC President from gymnastics but also the first Asian leader in IOC history, breaking a century-old leadership pattern. His vision encompasses Olympic reform, sports diplomacy, and integrating advanced technology into sports administration.
On March 20, the IOC presidential election will take place in Greece. Will Morinari Watanabe, with his bold and unconventional proposals, redefine the Olympics and pave a new path for Asia in global sports governance? The world awaits the answer.