For the first time, a US President features; President Barak Obama named at number two is a reflection of the influence he might have on the outcome of the IOC vote in October for the 2016 Olympic Games.
London Organising Committee Chair Seb Coe is named at number one. The The Golden 25 for 2009 includes a raft of newcomers; not on the 2008 list. Some such as London Major Boris Johnson or Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, had no Olympic connections a year ago.
The top 25 in 2009 are as follows:
1. Seb Coe, Chair London 2012
2. Barak Obama, US President
3. Jacques Rogge, President IOC
4. Richard Carrion,Chair IOC Finance Committee
5.John Furlong, CEO Vancouver 2010
6. Nawal El Moutawakel, IOC Member Morocco
7. Thomas Bach, Vice President IOC
8. Tessa Jowell, 2012 Olympics Minister
9. Gerhard Heiberg, IOC Member Norway
10. Gordon Campbell, Premier British Columbia
11. Franco Carraro, IOC Member Italy
12. Patrick Hickey, President European Olympic Committees
13. George Bodenheimar, Head of ABC Sports and ESPN
14. Gilbert Felli, IOC Executive Director for the Olympic Games
15. Mario Vazquez Rana, Persident Pan American NOC’s
16. Sheikh Ahmead Al Sabah, President Olympic Council of Asia
17. Dmitry Kozak, Russian Deputy Prime Minister
18. Denis Oswald, IOC Member Switzerland
19. Boris Johnson, London Mayor
20. Ser Miang Ng, IOC member Singapore
21. Rene Fasel, Chair Vancouver Coordination Commission
22. Laminee Diack, President IAAF
23. Lasana Palento, President African NOC’s
24. Larry Probst, Chair US Olympic C’tee
25. John Fahey, President World Anti Doping Agency