I will lead through collaboration, says new IOC President Coventry
BERLIN :Kirsty Coventry, the newly elected president of the International Olympic Committee, emphasised collaboration with stakeholders as a key priority for her tenure, in remarks made on Thursday ahead of her official takeover next week.
Coventry, a former Olympic swimming champion from Zimbabwe and Africa's most decorated Olympian, was elected to the post in March, succeeding Thomas Bach. She will formally assume the role following Monday's handover ceremony in Lausanne.
"I like to collaborate, to be able to listen, hear everyone's opinions. I think it is very important," Coventry said during an online media roundtable.
"I also know I am the president and need to take decisions and that we need to move."
Coventry, 41, is the first woman and the first African to lead the IOC. Her approach is expected to differ from her predecessor's, as Bach was known for the rapid speed and volume of his decision-making and concentration of power.
Bach's presidency was marked by wide-ranging reforms, including overhauling the Olympic bidding process, introducing new sports and reducing costs for host cities.
He also navigated challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and led to a spectator-free Beijing 2022 Winter Games.
Coventry said the IOC would hold a two-day workshop for its members, starting on June 24, the day after the handover ceremony, as part of ongoing discussions with stakeholders on key issues.
"It was not about title or power," she said when asked about her decision to run for president. "Sometimes those things get in the way and make you focus on the wrong things."
Reflecting on her appointment, Coventry acknowledged the significance of her role as the first woman to lead the IOC.
"It is not something I have thought about a lot in terms of impact it can have," she said. "In the past days now, I have a much greater understanding of that importance."
The IOC generates annual revenues of several billion dollars and Coventry noted the "responsibility" that comes with leading the organisation.
"As we get closer to the 23rd, yes, it is an exciting day but a day with a lot of responsibility. I am very proud of the fact that we as members chose at this moment in time to elect the first female president," she added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Singapore kitefoiler Max Maeder wins Sportsman of the Year for the first time
SINGAPORE: Singapore kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder won the Sportsman of the Year title for the first time at the Singapore Sports Awards on Friday (Jun 20) night. The 18-year-old had taken home Sportsboy of the Year honours for the last three years, but earned the top prize this time in recognition of a stellar 2024 season, including a historic Olympic bronze at the Paris Olympics. The teen has also been on fire this year, retaining his title at Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta, while last month, he successfully defended his Formula Kite European Championships open title. Maeder, who is currently the world's top-ranked kitefoiler, was not present at at Swissotel the Stamford, where the awards ceremony was held, due to his ongoing season. He was instead represented by his parents, Valentin Maeder and Hwee Keng Maeder. They collected a cheque for S$10,000 (US$7,700) on his behalf. Wushu exponent Zeanne Law's feats were also recognised as she sealed her maiden Sportswoman of the Year accolade, having won Sportsgirl of the Year in 2024. Among her highlights were two golds at World Taijiquan Championships in August last year. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, who is also Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) president, paid tribute to Maeder's achievements in her speech at the awards ceremony. "Kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder had a season to remember in 2024, winning nearly every title available and capping it off with a bronze medal at the Olympic Games," she said. Ms Fu also lauded Team Singapore's "extraordinary year", noting that 15 out of the 23-member contingent in Paris had made their Olympic debut. "From regional competitions to the grand stage of the Paris Olympic Games, our athletes stood shoulder to shoulder with the world's best - proving that Singapore has earned its place on the global sporting map," she said. On the World Aquatics Championships, which Singapore will host next for the first time next month, Ms Fu called the event a "major milestone and a proud moment for our sports community". The championships runs second only to the Olympics in terms of prestige. Organised by SNOC as well as Sport Singapore, and supported by the Tote Board, the Singapore Sports Awards recognise the most deserving individuals and teams in sports for 2024. Kai Minejima Lee (indoor skydiving) and Charlotte Ng Leting (wushu) secured the Sportsboy and Sportsgirl of the Year awards respectively, while Yeo Mee Hong (netball) was named Coach of the Year.
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Paulino pips Nasir, Cherotich beats Chemutai at Paris Diamond League
Athletics - Diamond League - Paris - Charlety Stadium, Paris, France - June 20, 2025 Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser and Dominican Republic's Marileidy Paulino in action during the women's 400m final REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes PARIS - Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino outfought Salwa Eid Naser to win the women's 400 metres at the Paris Diamond League meet on Friday, Faith Cherotich won the steeplechase and Grace Stark set a personal best to outgun Tobi Amusan in the 100m hurdles. Dominican Republic's Paulino needed a season's best time of 48.81, a new meeting record, as the world champion came from behind to pip Bahrain's Naser, who took silver at last year's Olympics. "All I focused on was to get to through to the finish line feeling strong, although I am not feeling very well, my stomach has been playing up a bit," Paulino said. Kenyan Cherotich took bronze at the Paris Olympics behind Ugandan silver medallist Peruth Chemutai in the 3,000m steeplechase, and the pair left the rest of the field behind early in the race. This time 20-year-old Cherotich came out on top as she left her rival behind in the closing metres, with a personal best time of 8:53.37, to repeat her wins in Doha and Oslo. "It's great that I have already won three Diamond Leagues this season being the youngest in the field," Cherotich said. "The big goal are the World Championships in Tokyo and I want to win." Nigeria's world record holder and 2022 world champion Amusan had to settle for second place as American 24-year-old Stark led from the start to win the women's 100m hurdles in 12.21 seconds, knocking one tenth of a second off her personal best. "I wanted to break that 12.3 so bad, I was really pushing for it in Stockholm," Stark said. "I'm just so excited to break 12.3, I really knew I could do it this year." In the men's 400m hurdles, Olympic champion Rai Benjamin barely broke sweat in setting a meeting record 46.93, doing enough down the home straight to hold off Qatar's Abderrahman Samba, who had set the previous record back in 2018. "I just took it easy because we just had a really fast race in Stockholm. There was no need to come out and force something, especially because the season is so long," Benjamin said. MAHUCHIKH OUTJUMPED Ukrainian Olympic high jump champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh broke the world record with a leap of 2.10 meters at last year's meeting, but she could only manage 1.97 this time to take second place behind Australia's Nicola Olyslagers. The men's 1,500m may not have been a Diamond League event, but the race had the home crowd on their feet as France's Azeddine Habz smashed the national record with a world leading time of 3:27.49. Habz took almost a second and a half off the previous record set in 2003, and ran the sixth fastest time ever over the distance. "It's incredible, there is no other word," Habz said. "I had come to this meeting with the goal of breaking the French record." Kenya's Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech came second with an impressive 3:27.72, breaking the world under-20 record. Another non-Diamond League race, the men's 3000m steeplechase, saw the return to the track of Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma after his heavy fall which left him unconscious at the Paris Olympics. Girma returned to the scene of his world record from 2023, and was happy to get the race, and win, under his belt. "This is a big thing for me today, especially after the Paris Olympics," Girma said. "It feels it was a long time ago, so this was very important for me. The legs not much of a problem, but I was a little scared. Now that the race is finished I feel much better." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
9 hours ago
- CNA
Sabalenka saves four match points to outlast Rybakina in Berlin
World number one Aryna Sabalenka showed nerves of steel and champion's resolve to defeat Elena Rybakina 7-6(6) 3-6 7-6(6) in their Berlin Open quarter-final on Friday, saving four match points in the final-set tiebreak. Rybakina had led 6-2 in the deciding breaker and appeared on the brink of securing a place in the semis but after she was denied victory on her first match point by a net cord, the momentum swung in Sabalenka's favour. The Belarusian reeled off five straight points, eventually clinching the win as Rybakina faltered under pressure. Sabalenka's grit and power proved decisive against the 2022 Wimbledon champion. The first set was a see-saw battle, with Rybakina breaking for a 4-2 lead before Sabalenka hit straight back. Both players held serve from 4-4 to force a tiebreak, where Sabalenka edged it 8-6. Rybakina responded by racing into a 2-0 lead in the second set and breaking again late to close it out 6-3. The deciding set was fiercely contested, with Sabalenka breaking for 5-4 but failing to serve out the match as Rybakina broke back and held for 6-5. Sabalenka then held under pressure to force a tiebreak, which produced the match's most dramatic twist. "Elena, she's a great player, we had a lot of tough battles in the very last stages and she's an amazing player honestly no idea how I was able to win those last points, I think I just got lucky," Sabalenka said after the match. "When I was just starting, I won a lot of matches being down match points and actually not so long ago I was thinking, 'it's been a while since I've had some crazy comeback' and so here I am. "It's amazing to win matches like this, it trains your fighting spirit for the next tournaments and I'm proud of myself for trying till the very last point." Sabalenka will face Czech Marketa Vondrousova next, who is aiming for her first final since winning Wimbledon in 2023. Vondrousova defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-1 in a rematch of the 2023 Wimbledon final. Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu advanced to the semi-finals after eighth seed Paula Badosa retired due to a right hip injury during their quarter-final clash. Wang, ranked 49th in the world, was leading 6-1 0-0 when Badosa pulled out of the contest. The Spaniard, visibly frustrated, smashed her racket and hurled it across the court following the post-match handshakes. The 23-year-old Wang has enjoyed a breakout week in the German capital, beating second seed Coco Gauff in the previous round. She will next face either American Amanda Anisimova or Russia's Liudmila Samsonova for a place in the final.
