Kirsty Coventry spoke at RFI a few hours from the election of the next IOC president. The former swimmer, who could become the first woman to be elected, said that the Paris 2024 Games should serve as an example for future editions, a position widely shared. « Paris 2024 was exactly what the world needed, especially after Covid, she believes. They were incredible and extremely successful Games, and we need to use this platform now that everyone is still talking about them. The Paris 2024 Organizing Committee and Tony Estanguet have done an incredible job across the country in engaging young people, schoolchildren, and involving them in sport, and it is the IOC's mission to build a better world through sport. So, the question is how we can use what was done at Paris 2024 and spread it throughout the world."
Zimbabwe's sports minister, who won seven Olympic medals during her career, also reiterated her desire to offer more opportunities to athletes, even before they reach the Games. “Looking at my journey and talking to the athletes around me, the hardest part is always before you become an Olympic champion or before you become famousshe explains. Once you are or have won medals, many more opportunities open up to you. So the question is, how we can help more athletes become Olympic champions or finalists.This is how we can reach more athletes.” She thus wishes to steer the IOC's dedicated programs in this direction.
