Kirsty Coventry elected IOC president and is first woman, African to lead global Olympic body
Source: news.source.mb
Kirsty Coventry was elected president of the International Olympic Committee on March 20, 2025, becoming the first woman and first African to hold this position. The election took place in Costa Navarino, Greece, and she won in the first round with 49 votes out of 97. Coventry, a former Olympic swimming gold medalist and Zimbabwe's sports minister, will serve an eight-year term until 2033. Her presidency will see challenges including negotiations with the U.S. President about the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and finding a host for the 2036 Summer Games. She will officially take over from Thomas Bach on June 23, 2025.
Key Points
Kirsty Coventry was elected as the president of the IOC on March 20, 2025, marking her as the first woman and first African to lead the organization.
She won the election in the first round with 49 votes out of 97 IOC members.
Coventry will serve an eight-year term until 2033.
She will officially take over from Thomas Bach on June 23, 2025, which is Olympic Day.
Key challenges include negotiations with the U.S. President regarding the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and finding a host for the 2036 Summer Games.
Coventry's manifesto focused on continuity from Bach's policies.
