The International Olympic Committee is opening a new chapter, and it will be embodied by Kirsty Coventry. The Zimbabwean woman was elected president on Thursday afternoon., shortly before 16:30, at Costa Navarino. The IOC members voted for her, as the 41-year-old candidate obtained an absolute majority in the first round against her six opponents. The former swimmer, the tenth president in the organization's history, is also an icon: on June 24, she will become the first woman and the first African representative to lead the IOC. A strong message for parity and universality, two key issues for the Olympic movement.
The end of glass ceilings
The election was announced as undecided with such a large number of candidates. Kirsty Coventry's vision nevertheless managed to unite and convince so widely that the suspense evaporated in the first round. She received 49 votes out of 97, against 28 for Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, who had high ambitions given his longevity and knowledge of the IOC, and 8 for Sebastian Coe, who defended his ideas to the end on social networks. David Lappartient (4), Morinari Watanabe (4), Johan Eliasch (2) and Prince Feisal (2) brought up the rear. This victory, clear and without a hitch, has the merit of being clear and granting enormous legitimacy to Kirsty Coventry. Enough to begin her mandate in the best conditions on June 24.
“It’s like when I won my first Olympic medal in 2004, it’s a bit unreal, said the winner. The young girl who started swimming in Zimbabwe so many years ago could never have dreamed of this moment. I am particularly proud to be the first female IOC President and the first from Africa. I hope this will inspire many people. Glass ceilings have been broken today, and I am fully aware of my responsibilities as a role model. Sport has the unparalleled power to unite, inspire, and create opportunities for all, and I am committed to ensuring that we harness this power to the fullest. Together with the entire Olympic family, including our athletes, fans, and sponsors, we will build on our strong foundations, innovate, and uphold the values of friendship, excellence, and respect."
Gather and listen
Announced as Thomas Bach's favorite candidate, Kirsty Coventry will offer a new, younger, and more universal image to the IOC. However, she will not shake up the organization in terms of ideas or projects. The Zimbabwean will take up Thomas Bach's pilgrim's staff and continue to support the modernization of the IOC in all areas. She has just slipped into her manifesto that she wishes to study the sports program of the Games, implying that she could shift some lines, in order to adapt to « an ever-changing global landscape » and ensure the attractiveness of the Olympic Games.
During the campaign, she reiterated her commitment to providing more opportunities for athletes, particularly by expanding existing programs and Olympic Solidarity scholarships. She also emphasized democracy and the need to consider all points of view by giving more weight to members and commissions. In her manifesto, she promised, upon her election, to "bring together all members to assess the current state of the Olympic movement and collaboratively define short, medium and long-term objectives. »She followed this line on Thursday evening when answering the first questions posed on the IOC channel. « I want to focus on bringing all the candidates together, she explained about her priorities. There have been so many great ideas and exchanges over the past six months, I'd like to build on all of that." A team effort designed to ensure success for the next eight years – or even longer if there is a connection, which would surprise no one given the great confidence that the IOC members have placed in their future leader.
