As the race for the next International Olympic Committee president heats up, climate change and sustainability have emerged as defining issues.

The signatories to an open letter calling for IOC action on climate change range from Australia's most decorated Olympian, swimmer Emma McKeon, to Cyrille Tchatchet II, a weightlifter who represented the refugee team at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Just days before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) elects a new president in Greece more than 400 athletes on Friday called on the future leader of the body to strengthen its action for the environment.