Online Reporter
KIRSTY Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medalist and experienced sports administrator, has positioned herself as a transformative leader for the International Olympic Committee with her manifesto, “Unleashing the Transformative Power of Sport.”
Coventry, who is Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sport, has placed athletes at the centre of her agenda, emphasising mental health, physical recovery, and equitable opportunities, particularly for women.
She has proposed expanding the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship programme and enhancing athletes career initiatives to support their development both during and after their competitive years.
Beyond athletes welfare, Coventry is advocating for a more inclusive governance structure within the IOC, aiming to foster open dialogue and empower IOC members, International Federations (IFs), and National Olympic Committees (NOCs). As the Olympic Movement navigates an evolving media and sponsorship landscape, Coventry is calling for deeper engagement with existing partners while exploring new sponsorship models.
“I want to be the best candidate to win, not just because of my gender or from where I come from,” she said.
Meanwhile, the IOC’s current vice president Juan Antonio Samaranch attended the Asian Winter Games in Harbin this last week, where he highlighted the need to grant members greater decision-making power.
The Spaniard, immersed in a key moment of the campaign, gave an interview to the Chinese news agency Xinhua during his stay at the event.
In his statements, Samaranch made it clear that if he wins the presidential elections, he will fulfil his promise and grant greater prominence to committee members in selecting future Olympic host cities and in shaping the future of Olympism.
“Members must regain the power to decide which cities host the Games.
“They should be able to participate in designing and discussing the IOC’s main policies, and this is best achieved through more participatory sessions,” said Samaranch.
Samaranch suggests increasing the retirement figure to 75.
“Being 70 today is like being 60 twenty-five years ago when this policy was introduced,” the Spaniard stated. I believe we are losing many people who join the IOC late because they must first rise through the ranks of their international federations, national Olympic committees, or the sports sector.
“By the time they reach 60, they are only just beginning to understand how the IOC works.
“That is a waste of talent we cannot afford.” — Xinhua/Sports Reporter
