Latest news with #ThomasBach
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
New IOC president Kirsty Coventry promises collaboration ahead of assuming role
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President elect Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe poses during the 3rd IOC Brisbane 2032 Coordination Commission final press conference at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on May 22, 2025. Photo: PATRICK HAMILTON Kirsty Coventry, the newly elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), emphasised collaboration with stakeholders as a key priority for her tenure, in remarks made 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 24 June, 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. - Reuters
CBC
13 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
New IOC president Kirsty Coventry says she'll 'lead through collaboration'
Kirsty Coventry, the newly elected president of the International Olympic Committee, emphasized collaboration with stakeholders as a key priority for her tenure, in remarks made Thursday in Berlin 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, Switzerland. "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, 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 organization. "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. Kirsty Coventry elected new IOC president 3 months ago Duration 7:29 41-year-old from Zimbabwe is first woman to hold the post, replacing Thomas Bach, who's held the job since 2013.
Irish Times
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Kirsty Coventry vows to stay humble as the first female president of the IOC
Kirsty Coventry has promised to not let power go to her head when she becomes the first woman president of the International Olympic Committee next week. Her predecessor, Thomas Bach, would always stay in a suite paid for by the IOC at the five-star Lausanne Palace hotel, costing over €2,000 a night, whenever he was in the city. However, the Zimbabwean confirmed her family would not be following suit. 'We won't be staying in the Palace,' she said. 'I really want my kids to grow up doing the same thing that I did, making beds and doing our chores and being kids.' Coventry, who won seven Olympic medals during her swimming career, said the significance of being the first woman IOC president had hit her only when she started reading the messages of support from other women. Asked for more details, Coventry said: 'I think I will start crying, so might have to do that another time. But the sentiments were really just around: 'Thank you;' 'You're such an inspiration;' 'This is so incredible.' READ MORE 'I had a coworker of mine come up to me. His mom had called him and said: 'Never in my lifetime did I ever think I'd get to see a woman leading the movement that you're working for,' and that was really special. There's been a lot of moments like that. Those are things I will hold on to in the future, when the road gets bumpy.' Coventry also made it clear she wanted IOC members to feel free to speak their minds and had invited them to stay two extra nights in Lausanne next week to have a 'pause and reflect workshop' to hear their ideas. 'The way I like to lead is with collaboration,' she said. 'I like people to say: 'Yes, I had a say and this was the direction that we went.' That way you get a really authentic buy-in.' The 41-year-old made it clear she campaigned for the IOC job to change people's lives for the better and not for the prestige involved. 'After I was elected my husband started giggling at the breakfast table and he looked at me and he goes: 'Do you realise you're the most powerful person in sport?'' she said. 'And I was like: 'What are you talking about?' For me, it's not about the title. It wasn't about power. Sometimes those things get in the way and they make you focus on maybe the wrong things. It's just not who I am. 'But I'm very proud we have elected our first female president. And I'm going to do my best to ensure that it's a successful journey.' – Guardian
South China Morning Post
17 hours ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
New IOC president Kirsty Coventry vows to lead through collaboration
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 round table. 'I also know I am the president and need to take decisions and that we need to move.' The 41-year-old 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 coronavirus pandemic, which delayed the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and led to a spectator-free Beijing 2022 Winter Games.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kirsty Coventry vows to stay humble as the first female president of the IOC
Kirsty Coventry will take over from Thomas Bach (right) as president of the IOC next week. Kirsty Coventry will take over from Thomas Bach (right) as president of the IOC next week. Photograph: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Kirsty Coventry has promised to not let power go to her head when she becomes the first female president of the International Olympic Committee next week. Her predecessor, Thomas Bach, would always stay in a suite paid for by the IOC at the five-star Lausanne Palace hotel, costing about £2,000 a night, whenever he was in the city. However, the Zimbabwean confirmed her family would not be following suit. Advertisement Related: Kirsty Coventry's in-tray: six big issues facing IOC's new president 'We won't be staying in the Palace,' she said. 'I really want my kids to grow up doing the same thing that I did, making beds and doing our chores and being kids.' Coventry, who won seven Olympic medals during her swimming career, said the significance of being the first female IOC president had hit her only when she started reading the messages of support from other women. Asked for more details, Coventry said: 'I think I will start crying, so might have to do that another time. But the sentiments were really just around: 'Thank you;' 'You're such an inspiration;' 'This is so incredible.' 'I had a co-worker of mine come up to me. His mom had called him and said: 'Never in my lifetime did I ever think I'd get to see a woman leading the movement that you're working for,' and that was really special. There's been a lot of moments like that. Those are things I will hold on to in the future, when the road gets bumpy.' Advertisement Coventry also made it clear she wanted IOC members to feel free to speak their minds and had invited them to stay two extra nights in Lausanne next week to have a 'pause and reflect workshop' to hear their ideas. 'The way I like to lead is with collaboration,' she said. 'I like people to say: 'Yes, I had a say and this was the direction that we went.' That way you get a really authentic buy-in.' The 41-year-old made it clear she campaigned for the IOC job to change people's lives for the better and not for the prestige involved. 'After I was elected my husband started giggling at the breakfast table and he looked at me and he goes: 'Do you realise you're the most powerful person in sport?'' she said. 'And I was like: 'What are you talking about?' For me, it's not about the title. It wasn't about power. Sometimes those things get in the way and they make you focus on maybe the wrong things. It's just not who I am. 'But I'm very proud we have elected our first female president. And I'm going to do my best to ensure that it's a successful journey.'
