The post Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry elected IOC’s first African, female, and youngest president appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.
]]>Coventry, 41, will also be the youngest to assume the position and won the election in the seaside resort of Costa Navarino, Greece, to land the most powerful job in world sport.
The seven-time Olympic swimming medallist, won in the first round of voting at the 144th IOC Session, defeating fellow candidates HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, David Lappartient, Johan Eliasch, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Lord Sebastian Coe and Morinari Watanabe.
President-elect Coventry said, “I am incredibly honoured and excited to be elected as President of the International Olympic Committee! I want to sincerely thank my fellow members for their trust and support.
“The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamt of this moment.
“I am particularly proud to be the first female IOC President, and also the first from Africa. I hope that this vote will be an inspiration to many people. Glass ceilings have been shattered today, and I am fully aware of my responsibilities as a role model.
“Sport has an unmatched power to unite, inspire and create opportunities for all, and I am committed to making sure we harness that power to its fullest. Together with the entire Olympic family, including our athletes, fans and sponsors, we will build on our strong foundations, embrace innovation, and champion the values of friendship, excellence and respect. The future of the Olympic Movement is bright, and I can’t wait to get started!”
After the election, IOC president Thomas Bach, whose 12-year term ends on June 23, 2025, congratulated Coventry on her victory.
“I warmly welcome the decision of the IOC members and look forward to strong cooperation, particularly during the transition period,” Bach said. “Congratulations to Kirsty Coventry on her election as the 10th IOC President. The future of our Olympic Movement is bright.”
Coventry will serve an eight-year term, as outlined in IOC rules.
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]]>The post 77th World Health Assembly: IOC president advocates for sport to combat non-communicable diseases, praises athlete contributions during pandemic appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.
]]>The President highlighted the success of the “Let’s Move” campaigns, a collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the IOC. He stated, “When our next ‘Let’s Move’ campaign kicks-off on Olympic Day, the 23rd of June, we will once again inspire people to move for health, getting millions of people around the globe to warm-up for the Olympic Games and celebrate the joy of sport.”
He expressed his gratitude to the WHO, particularly its Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, for their support during the pandemic. He noted, “The pandemic made it crystal clear how important sport is for our physical and mental health. Sport can save lives.”
IOC President Thomas Bach is addressing the 77th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (@WHO). Follow live: https://t.co/qgQvvxAj1I
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) May 27, 2024
The President also acknowledged the role of sport in combating non-communicable diseases, which accounted for the majority of mortality during the pandemic. He said, “For all these diseases and predispositions, sport is an excellent tool for prevention.”
The IOC President praised the athletes who stepped up during the pandemic, joining pro-vaccination campaigns, working in hospitals, and encouraging people to stay active and healthy. He said, “Countless athletes stepped up to the fight against the virus… showing us that sport gives us hope.”
He also highlighted the successful organization of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 during the pandemic, attributing their safe execution to the comprehensive countermeasures and vaccination programs developed in collaboration with the WHO.
Looking ahead, the President emphasized the need for future cooperation with the WHO to promote the health of refugees. He said, “It was encouraging to see the WHO including health of refugees and migrants in your most recent Global Action Plan.”
In conclusion, the President invited everyone to live the Olympic motto: “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together,” and added a humble addition to the theme of the World Health Assembly, “All for Health, Health for All… Sport for All.”
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