Zimbabwe's Coventry Elected as First Female and African IOC Chairperson

A 41-year-old woman from Zimbabwe, Kirsty Coventry, has been elected as the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Kirsty Coventry elected as the new IOC President. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

According to the IOC on the 20th (local time), Coventry was elected as the 10th IOC President at the 144th IOC Session held in Costa Navarino, Greece. She is the first female president and the first African president in the history of the IOC.

Although there were expectations that it would be difficult to break through the male-dominated European-centric IOC, she secured a majority in the first round of voting in this election, which recorded the highest competition rate ever, surpassing the other six male candidates at once. The British daily The Guardian evaluated, "Kirsty Coventry is the first African to become IOC President and has become the most influential woman in world sports."

At a press conference after her election, she said, "This is a really powerful signal," adding, "It shows that we are truly globalizing and evolving towards embracing diversity. We will continue on that path for the next eight years."

Coventry’s official term as the new IOC President, starting on June 24, will be eight years, with the possibility of a single four-year extension, allowing her to serve up to 12 years. She said, "I plan to have a handover period with President Thomas Bach," adding, "There have been excellent ideas and discussions over the past six months. The goal is to actively utilize these and bring all candidates back together as one."

She also stated, "The Olympics should be a place of harmony and inclusion," and said, "The reason the IOC and the Olympic movement have lasted for so many years is because people could come together through the Olympics. Diversity is a powerful element that connects us."

She continued, "In today’s divided world, the Olympics is the greatest platform to showcase humanity’s good values," adding, "Just as the 2024 Paris Olympics served as an opportunity to build consensus and mutual understanding, the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics will also play such roles."