Breathe
By Rosa Covarrubias
"Unleashing the power to transform sport" was the motto of the candidacy of the now elected president of the International Olympic Committee.
Kirsty Coventry, not only represents the first woman at the head of the IOC, she represents the Olympic movement of a continent that is relegated in many social aspects and that, through sport, seeks to stand out and be seen by the rest of the world, I am referring to Africa. As if that were not enough, at 41 years old, she is the second youngest to lead the Olympic movement; Pierre de Coubertin was the youngest at only 38 years old.
Coventry knows sport inside out and has done so from all angles, first as a swimmer and Olympic medalist, secondly with sports management, having served as Zimbabwe's Minister of Sport and thirdly, not least as a member of the IOC, in 2013 representing athletes and from 2018 onwards on the Executive Committee in her capacity as Chair of the Athletes' Commission.
"My motivation is to give back to the movement that has given me so much and allowed me to be who I am. As guardians of this movement, we have a responsibility to protect and build on the legacy of those who came before us to ensure that athletes remain at the center of what we do as we continue to deliver the best sporting event in the world," this was part of the speech he gave at the presentation of his candidacy in early 2025.
His presidency comes at a critical time, not only for sport, therefore, Coventry has pointed out on several occasions that the Olympic movement should be away from all geopolitical problems, so it will not be a surprise if for the next Olympic Games (next year are the winter ones) Russian and Belarusian athletes compete under his flag. This will be his first big challenge and he will have to walk with firm steps to bring his proposal to fruition.
Athletes are the central axis of her project, she wants to focus, once again, on them, to give equality to women and men in all senses. The IOC has taken firm steps throughout its 130-year history, but the new President wants to support athletes even more, especially those who do not have the same opportunities as those who represent major powers. IOC sponsors and commercial partners will play a key role in the development of athletes in countries with smaller budgets.
One of the goals of the International Olympic Committee in recent years has been to reach younger audiences, who have been losing interest in some disciplines and therefore in the great event as such. Coventry will seek through technology, new platforms and Artificial Intelligence, to broaden the interest of the new generations, this also includes an evolution in the Olympic program without losing the essence of the movement.
The sustainability of the Olympic Games also implies another important challenge, the organization of the great event always involves a heavy investment for the cities, Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 had and will have significant changes, but the investment is still multimillion and there is still a long way to go if the IOC wants to take the Games to other latitudes.
Coventry has broken the glass ceiling, he has made history, he has in his hands the opportunity to transform the IOC with his fresh and inclusive vision. His ability to balance modernity with tradition, together with strengthening the confidence of athletes in the International Federations and the Olympic Committees of their respective countries.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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