Ukrainian Sergey Bubka a legendary candidate for IOC president

Bubka set 35 world records, including the existing indoor mark of 6.15 meters that has stood since 1993.

Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

And spreading the word today entails some degree of technological proficiency. "In my day-to-day, you have iPhone, iPad, you respond and communicate," he says. "It has made the world more transparent. I have two sons 28 and 26. If it's not connected by Wi-Fi, they're in trouble. As president of a national Olympic committee, I always pay attention to our website, Facebook, Twitter. This is very important to promote activity. You cannot live without it. It's so great for us to deliver information, training programs, nutrition, the history of sport and Olympism. I grew up when things were much simpler, but the world changes and the Olympic world changes."