The International Olympic Committee says that seven candidates, including Japan's Watanabe Morinari, will run to succeed Thomas Bach as president.

The IOC presidential election is scheduled for next March at a session to be held in Greece. Bach will step down at that time, completing his 12-year presidency.

The IOC announced on Monday that the seven people officially announced their candidacies by the deadline of midnight on Sunday.

International Gymnastics Federation President Watanabe becomes the first Japanese to run for the IOC presidency.

Watanabe, who is 65 years old and hails from Kitakyushu City in southwestern Japan, assumed the presidency of the international gymnastics federation, also known as FIG, in 2017.

He was the first Japanese in 22 years to head an international sport organization. He has also served as an IOC member since 2018.

The other candidates are: Jordan Olympic Committee President Prince Feisal Al Hussein, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe of Britain, IOC Executive Board member Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, International Ski and Snowboard Federation President Johan Eliasch of Britain, President of the world's cycling governing body UCI David Lappartient of France and IOC Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch of Spain. Samaranch's father served as IOC president.

Among nine IOC presidents, eight have come from Europe and one from the United States.