Her presidency, set to begin officially on Olympic Day, 23 June 2025, will mark a historic moment as she becomes the first woman and first African to lead the IOC
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, June 21, 2025/APO Group/ --
In her first major media appearance since being elected President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry offered a strikingly human portrait of the leader she intends to be: humble, collaborative, and unwaveringly grounded in the values of sport, equity, and Olympism, as she addressed international media during an online open roundtable on Zoom this afternoon.
IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry (Photo by Fabrice Coffrini - Pool/Getty Images)
FIRST WOMAN & AFRICAN Speaking candidly for over an hour, the Zimbabwean reflected on the life journey that brought her from the pools of Harare to the corridors of Olympic power in Lausanne. Her presidency, set to begin officially on Olympic Day, 23 June 2025, will mark a historic moment as she becomes the first woman and first African to lead the IOC.
GROUNDED LEADERSHIP Coventry made it clear that her leadership will not be rooted in authority, but in consensus and a collaborative, human-centred vision: ”In both my personal and professional career, I've always had incredible people around me to keep me grounded and humble; those are people whom I will continue to keep around me.”
She added: “Values are at the core of our daily business, they're incredibly important in today's communities, and I hold this very close to my heart.”
WHY IOC FORUMS MATTER Replying to a question from Japan's Wakako Yuki on the role of IOC Forums in attribute Conventry's vision as president, "I have a vision that I would like to see, but I want to do it in a collaborative way. The Athletes Forum, eSport, Olympism365, the two ASOIF and WOF General Assemblies have been great platforms to listen to people, to hear topics that are important to them."
2ND MEDIA ROUNDTABLE IN SIGHT Coventry announced that immediately following the IOC Session on June 23-24, she has invited members to stay for a two-day “pause and reflect” workshop, an opportunity for honest dialogue about the IOC’s challenges and future direction:
"I've invited the IOC members to stay two extra days so that I can hear what is on their mind and what they see as our opportunities and what they may see as our challenges, as we move into the future and come up with different ideas. This is the first point in a longer consultation process with all stakeholders, including yourselves as media, where we'll create another round table where I'll get to ask you all a bunch of questions. That will strengthen the Olympic movement in a collaborative way."
VALUES CARRIED TO IOC PRESIDENCY Nadine Hassan from Jordan asked Kirsty, looking back on her journey, from Olympic champion to minister and now IOC President, which moments off the podium had the greatest impact in shaping the person she is today? "I’ll need a moment to properly reflect on this. I think I’d have to go back to my roots. Growing up in Zimbabwe played a huge role. It’s a small community in many ways. We’re a big country geographically, but we’re just 15 million people, and we lean on each other.
"I think that kind of upbringing, maybe a bit more sheltered, surrounded by strong values and close-knit support, helped me understand the importance of having grounded, humble, genuine people around me. And it’s those people who’ve consistently reminded me of where I come from. That’s been one of the most powerful influences throughout my journey.
CHALLENGES, AND DIFFICULT MEN.. New York Times reporter Tariq Panja referenced Coventry’s previous remarks about dealing with “difficult men.” She smiled knowingly and recounted the pressures she faced as a young Olympic medallist representing Zimbabwe during politically turbulent times:
"As athletes, we had a lot of pressure coming from different government officials in Zimbabwe, and you know, it was hard. To look at others and trying to say, I'm an athlete, I don't believe in the politics in sport. I want to just focus on performing well," She said, without names mentioned, “Looking back now, it taught me a lot about how to work with people, how to be respectful of differing opinions and still move forward on a shared agenda."
WOMEN SUPPORT WOMEN USA's Rachel Axon asked, How has your career been shaped by other women at various career points, adding the gender equality initiatives to your role as female IOC President. Conventry highlighted the women who shaped her path, from her mother and grandmother to her university head swim coach, even Olympic trailblazers like Donna de Varona:
She said, "My grandfather passed away when Mom was in her late teens. And so my grandmother was a single mom for most of her life, with three kids, and both were just incredibly strong women who raised families, and I think my mom's pretty great, and my uncle and aunt. She did a great job, but she also had a successful career in fashion. My mum got to see her doing that, so she was always an incredible role model for my sister and I."
She adds: "My swim coach, Kim, who became a Division I coach while her husband was deployed overseas, with two very young kids, watching how she balanced that was inspiring. When we were preparing for the 2004 Olympics, her eldest came to Athens as a baby.. Again, I've been fortunate in my life to have very strong women around me who have shown me that it's possible. It's not always easy, but it's possible," noting her hope to pay that inspiration forward, especially for her two daughters.
AFRICAN HERITAGE A question from China's Mandan Zhu touched on Coventry’s rich international background and the impact of her African heritage, coming from Harare to Lausanne as a little girl with big dreams,"I can remember exactly where I was standing in my parents' living room. I was still in my swimsuit, feeling cold after swimming in the pool, only to stand in front of the TV and watch divers compete. I would say that there's never a dream too big.
"You know, where there is a will to achieve, there's a way. And don't let someone talk you out of having that dream of what could be the best thing that happens to you. It's quite powerful."
WEIGHT OF BEING 'FIRST' British journalist Jamie Gardner asked Coventry about the significance of becoming the IOC’s first female president at this particular moment in history. While she admitted it wasn’t something she initially focused on, the outpouring of messages from women around the world has since left a powerful mark: “I had a coworker tell me that his mum said, ‘Never in my lifetime did I think I’d see a woman lead the movement you work for.’” That moment, she admitted, hit her deeply. “It’s not just an exciting day, it’s a day with a lot of responsibility.”
FROM SYDNEY TO BRISBANE Australia, particularly the Sydney 2000 Games, remains a defining touchstone for Coventry’s Olympic journey. Asked about her journey coming full circle, from a wide-eyed young swimmer at Sydney 2000 to President for Brisbane 2032, Coventry shared a funny tale about struggling to put on her first Speedo sharkskin suit, helped up by none other than Australian legend Susie O’Neill:
“When we arrived in Sydney, I went into the changing room to try my Speedo suit on, and it turned into a total disaster. I had one leg in, was struggling to get the other in, lost my balance completely, and toppled over. Mortifying. Then this amazing person next to me leans down to help, and as I look up, I realise… It’s Susie. I never forget that moment because she was a role model to me, those Games, changed everything for me,” she recalled. “Now I hope Brisbane will show the world the warmth and passion of Australia, and inspire the next generations like Sydney did for me.”
LIFTING VOICES As the media roundtable with IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry progressed, her clarity of purpose sharpened further. In a movement often shaped by the world’s most powerful nations, Coventry made a point of bringing attention to her roots, and how they shape her priorities: “I come from a much smaller NOC, a developing country,” she said of Zimbabwe. “And I understand the challenges our athletes face. How do we close that gap? How do we ensure that athletes from all walks of life, if not with the same opportunities, at least have equal opportunities?”
Coventry affirms that she intends to elevate voices often left on the margins. Her presidency, she hinted, will focus as much on inclusion as it will on innovation.
LEARNING FROM YOUNG GENERATIONS Perhaps the most poignant reminder of who Coventry is, and who she intends to be as IOC President, came when she spoke about her own children. “They’re a daily reminder of our responsibility to keep sport relevant, and to listen, really listen, to what young people think is important. Kids are honest,” she said with a smile. “And sometimes that’s a very good thing.”
Her two young daughters, she explained, are constant reminders that sport must remain relevant and engaging for younger generations. Despite the gravity of her new role, Coventry remains adamant about keeping her family grounded: “We won’t be staying in the Lausanne Palace. I want my kids to grow up doing the same things I did, making their beds, doing house chores, and just being kids.”
ROAD AHEAD As Kirsty Coventry prepares to officially assume the role on June 23, her message is one of optimism, inclusivity, and integrity. With the weight of history on her shoulders and the wind of lived experience at her back, she is poised not just to lead the Olympic Movement but to reshape it for the modern age, starting by one athlete, one story, one honest conversation at a time.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Sports Press Association (AIPS).
may give mercy to those who died there, but don`t think that the ONLF Has carried out any diract attack to any civilians,
In the Ogaden or Somaliland their aim is to attack Ethiopian Soldiers in Ogaden,
please dnt believe the ethioppian probaganda iam 1000% sure its not the somali lebaration front dat commted these murders its a strategy of pitting the somali people against each. and it already worked as my borther who wrote this article allready falled for the abbysinian propaganda am sure ogadeen and issaq somalis dont hate each other and it would msitake for for the lipartion to take such a action and they now this too well they not just a kiilin machine. long live somali wayn
This is another sad day. why do ONLF like to kill civilians? they publicly oppose our demand for recognition and attack Somaliland.
why doesn't america condemn the killings? i read about pass killings of civilians by ONLF..hundreds of innocent people http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/pha100207.htm
ONE DAY THEY WILL BROUGHT TO ICC TO JUSTICE!!!!
Hi there all,
Let us set the record straight before we get lost in the fruitless argument of tribal chauvanism.
1)Hurting INNOCENT civilians anywhere is wrong but who knows whether or not these two killed persons were guilty of some crime or innocent?.
2) Who knows for a fact that ONLF actually killed them?. Many things can wrongly be accused of ONLF as the case is with any political organisation. And it is hard to believe that ONLF would just kill an innocent person for no reason. In fact, it is not their interest to kill innocent persons and they know it very well and more than anybody else because achieving their goal depends on the support of their people.
3)Danod and Gashamo are towns within the borders of Ogadenia and, therefore, whether or not one likes is beyond Hargheisa’s jurispridence and reach.
One can not legimately argue to have laws in their territory and yet advocate for citizens of another territory. It simply doesn’t make sense. You either respect territorial limits or be guided by your clan instinct and lose your head and reasoning.
If Hargheisa wants to be respected in its borders, then it ought to learn that it has no business beyond the same borders. And the sooner the better.
O.N.L.F hadaf keedu mahan iney dad shacab ah laysto dagaalkeedu wuxuu ku aadan yahay ciidanka wayaanaha ee dulmiga kuhaya dadka reer Ogaadeeniya.
Wayaanuhu wuxuu isku dayaa suu dadka walaalaha ah ee soomaaliyeed isugu dirilahaa marka waxaan leeyahay waa in arintaa aad looga feejignaado
I don't think ONLF Kill Civilian ,, No way
ONLF fight against Ethiopian force, who killing there people
this is propaganda news really …
Ahmed,
Most people who made comments here made sense but unfortunately you are not one of them.
Here is your silly statement, I am not where the logic is.
"One can not legimately argue to have laws in their territory and yet advocate for citizens of another territory. It simply doesn't make sense. You either respect territorial limits or be guided by your clan instinct and lose your head and reasoning".
I think you are the one who is "guided by your clan instinct and lost your head and reasoning".
ahmedyy,
It is not good to be selective in your comment. By saying “most of the commentators” you are simply picking up the favorable ones and conveniently ignoring the non-savory ones.
ONLF is not obliged to recognize Somaliland (publically or privately)and the same is true with Somaliland. Also ONLF certainly did not kill hundreds (guilty or innocent) of people who hail from there.
It is also important to grow up and know where your allegiance lies, across the border with your clan or with those who you live with and you share with the suffering and pain of the Ethiopian occupation regardless of their clan.
One can’t have both ways and it really pays to know that.
ONLF will continue to loose sypathy for their cause if they ill-fully continue to kill and injure Somalilanders and non-Ogaden Somalis living in the Oogo. This practice of antagonizing Somalilanders can have repercussion that will not be helpful to their objectives and goals i.e. to live in peace with other Somalis in the region while fighting the oppression of the Ethiopian government.
Neither launching attacks from/on Somaliland territories or killing civilians can be tolerated for a long time as it has been going on for long time. Somaliland has laws and if these laws are willfully broken by any group whether they hail from Somaliland or ONLF, they will be brought to justice through court of law and held responsible for their actions. It wants to live in peace with all of its neighbors and therefore would not want any unnecessary friction between itself and its neighbors, so if ONFL wants peace with Somalilanders, they ought to respect and desist from such belligerent behaviour towards Somalilanders and their brothers/sister in the Oogo and Haud for an attack on one is an attack on the other. Isn't their objective to fight Ethiopian government, what is killing inocent Somalis going about their life and business going to accomplish. Know your enemies and know them well and refrain from such distastful actions.
I do not think this is the action ONLF. People in Somaliland and Ogaden are brothers and sisters.
ONLF do not deliberatly target civilian let alone somali civilians.
Bro thanks to news but also other source says, in different way, in my point of veiw i was in Ogaden long time, i am not Ogaden clan, i am sheekhaal, and i know even the war between some reer cabdille clan and sheekhaal and the main cause was Ethiopian, they want to divide somalis in the region, i was living in Fiq and also Jigjiga, ONLF really faces war againist Ethiopia, may be there is regime in Somaliland who does not want ONLF, also may be some one in Ogaden sees Somaliland as haters, but fact is far from there, some times Ethiopian Troops takes Civilian trucks and onlf clash over them, so we cant say this time it is deliberatly, here is some other source, in this website.
http://www.horusocod.com/news.php?readmore=470
cumar,saaxiib waxaan dhihi lahaaba adaa yidhi,aad ayaanad u mahadsan tahay
Waxaan u malaynayaa in fakarka dadka uu cad yahay,kaas oo odhanaya waxaan suurto gal ahayn in ay onlf ay dad shacab ah iska layso si ulakac ah,waxaan kali ah oo aan dhihi lahaa in rabbi ha'garansiiyo reer soomaaliland sida ay cidkasta u jeceshahay in meesha uu rabbi aduunka kaga abuuray ay mudan tahay in lagu xurmeeyo.
Iibsashada aad dadka soomaaliyeed ee itoobiya guumaysato aad iibsanaysaan waa wax laga xumaado oo aan la'iloobi karin.
the so-called somaliland fake country, fake government should not sent its clan into Ogadenia or more "somalilanders" will be killed by ONLF patriotic forces.
i wish ONLF killed more of your people who are slaves of the west and xabashi. somaliland will be destroyed soon.
Ogadenia will be free and somaliland will never get its recognition!!
Ogaden Fighter
you wrote " I wish ONLF killed more of your people who who are slaves of the west and xabashi, somaliland will be destroyed soon.
ogaden will be free and somaliland will never get its recognitoin.
I don't doubt you are Ogaden fighter because that is not how they talk and what believe, but you are one of those hypocrites out there who always try to ignite fire or create condition of hostility among people so shut your badmouth.
to somalilanders alghough I don't like your adminstration in hargaeysa's policy towards Ogadens, I opologize what that guy above comments
Ogaden figher
oOps!! I meant I really doubt that you are Ogader fighter because that is not how thay "ONLF" talk or believe.
It is wonderful report, I totaly dis agree for this comment,because Somali politicians blame each other geting hand the ONLF.
Example When Puntlnad and Somaliland were fighting, they accuse each other for ONLF fighting biside of, then it is became a habitual of the Somalis to acuse onlf killling civilians.
Freedom fighters of Ogaden they Know their enemy and they know their goals so no sigle Somali person is an enemy of the ONLF.
ONLF lost the war, their land and women so they take it out on civilians from Somaliland, this will not win them hearts in Somaliland, they will just have more Somalilanders close to Ethiopia and sympathetic with the Ethiopian people.
No wonder they are not free they dont even know how to fight nor win hearts or diplomacy for that matter, bunch of nomads with few riffles from world war 2 running around in the bushes.
i hail from the puntland administration, and as a puntlander and a somali, i condemm what happened to the 2 fellow somalis that died, but under any circumstances i will never believe that Onlf has commit such assualt
i also wanna say, that puntland administration and somaliland administration have both devil and stupid and dumm a leaders by simply siding with ethiopia and and support the continuous suffering of our somali brothers and sisters ..
why is it that we peaceful northern regions have to be supported by ethiopia whilst we carry out ethiopian interest which doesn't benefit us at all….
how come eritrea can stand on its own feet and somaliland and puntland need to be supported by ethiopian regime…
..the answer is very simple aslong as puntland and somaliland are not cooperating with each other and they are building armies towards each other,,…we will be puppets for ethiopia..
somalilanders above everything we are somali and muslim, with the right leaders we can not only be succesful but loving brothers who are succesfull..please support the peace between puntland and somaliland,….and also what u want for yourself want the same thing for the somalis being occupied by ethiopia
I am from Gashamo, and there our enemy number1 is the Oganden /ONLF terrorists, so please guys stop blaming someone else and open your eyes to reality.
xaaji,
while I agree with your sentiment that human suffering should be stopped, I question whether you understand that ALL people in the horn are suffering. It is time we all work together, whatever our ethnicity. At the end of the day it should not matter who the "leaders" are. What we should work for is peace and prosperity. For me, if I can feed my family, work at what I like, pray to God without trouble and enjoy life, I do not care to blame everyone for everything. You mention Eritrea standing alone. Ha! There people are suffering at the hands of the ego of Afwerki. Do you think the poor farmer there has time to worry who is in the parliament. We all know politicians are greedy and will do nothing for the people. So let us stop killing each other and start working towards building our neighborhood. I promise you, if we can work together to feed and educate all our people in the region, then all of this ignorant tribalism would go away.
Peace my brothers.
halimo
waa in ilaahay lagacabsado marka hore
marka xiga waxaan laayahay mamulka waqooyiga Somalia
waxuu rabaa in laiska hor keeno laba da shacab eewalaalaha ah
lakin socon mayso inshalaaah waxaan leeyahay mamulka waqooyi inay ka waan toobaan dhibka ay ugasanayaan shacabka OGADENIA..
ONLF cidna cadowkuma ah Hassan Hashi yow waxanyna utaagantahay socelinta ciida OGADENIA inshaalaaaaaaaaah
walaalayaal waxba yaana indhaha lais tirin ee halaga fiirsado waxyaabaha la qorayo ONLF waliged qof shacab ah iskama dilin waayo dowlada itoobiya waxay dooneesaa sidi ay iskaga hor keeni laheed walaalaha somalida, taasna ma dhaceeso ONLF goolkeeda waa sidii ay u xoreen laheed dadka uu gumeesiga heesto ee somalida Ogadenia,
waad mahadsantihiin
it is not true onlf is not kill some one freedom fighters of ogaden insha alaah
dont worry all somali ogadenia if allah say we wil come freedom ogadenia
dabaqoodhiyeenoow meel day dayda idinkuna horaleydaad tihiin wasa iyo gaalada beenta badan ee ilaah aqooneey any way ogaden we will gam freedom insha alaah
Ogadeen iyo reer Gashamo wey is yaqaniin, mar uu Afweyne soo hubeyo Ogadeen oo u yidhahdo ku dhufta reer Gashamo iyo mar ay la baxaan ONLFba wanaag nagama dhexeyo ee warka dambe ha la dhawrow.
here is another number of maangaab like ABRAHIN and HASSAN
somali hadda waxaas wayka baxday just move forward not backward example idinkoo safar aha oo gawaari wata haday qaarna wada sifican u hayaan oo horay u socdaan qaarna dibdib u socdaan kuwii dib u socda ama galaad kuwiitagay gaarimahayaan markaad islaam ayaad sheegaynaysiin therefore addunka meel ka raaca oo iska daaya waxyaalahaas oo kale
assalamu laykum
i read the article and all comments in this topic most of the comments are good but some of them are corrupted may be luck of language either English or somali we are muslim people we are brothers and sisters same (eligion,calture and languae) ethiopia are wolves they are enemy of somali people where ever they are .. dadka qaar ayaa dhaha axmardu haday somali akhiro meel ay ugu hagaagan heli lahaayeen way raadsan lahaayeen, ONLF are freedom fighters their target is not civilians if u visit jail ogaden in jijiga u will never imagine the number of people over crowded in one single room including pregnant women and children i can say this is well fabricated lie and somaliland and ogaden people are brothers and sisters 3 weeks ago ethiopia jailed and tortured number of ogaden people in raaso with out any reason some of them are aid workers helping poor people in raaso wich part of ogaden you can understand how ethiopia are enemy of somali people so let us stand together and help each other please stop complaining each other just only helping each other
thanks
ill make this short and sweet.
OGADENIS if you not carefull you'll have two enemies in the ogadenia Somaliland and Ethiopia.When the bullets start Flying they will be No mercy. as you allready WEAk it wont take much to take your land ,women and dignity.
So my Advice 2 tha Dummie Ogadenis-Watch your Step.
Somaliland First
Gaashaamo waa tuula yaroo Ogadenia ka tirsan. Tuulada sidii la doono ayaa loogu talin haddii kuwa degan ay dadka kale wax la qabi waayaana, xadka unbaa dhankale loo dhaafin. Sheekaduna meeshaa ayey ku gudhi.
Hargeysa ha ogaato haddey sii wadaan dabadhilif-nimada Xabashida, iney ku jabi doonaan waayo ONLF waxey quusisay TPLF-ta ay dabaqoodhiga u yihiin.