After the election as IOC President, Kirsty Coventry gets a lot of encouragement and support – but there is also criticism of her.
Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe is the first woman at the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). At the 144th IOC session in Costa Navarino in Greek, the 41-year-old former gold medalist in swimming was already elected in the first ballot as President She was considered the favorite of the outgoing president Thomas Bach, whose successor she will succeed on June 24.
Bach’s favorite
Her most promising competitor, Juan Antonio Samaranch JR. “The IOC members wanted a change to another generation, another continent, another sex, so that’s a good result.”
The IOC Vice President also emphasized that Thomas Bach had made it clear to his successor in Paris last year in Paris “Olympic winner, not European, part of another generation, member of the IOC Presidium” – This was only true for Kirsty Coventry among the candidates. According to the Olympic Charter, the public support of the presidential candidates by IOC members is prohibited.
“Modern disciples, female”
Other high -ranking sports officials were also on site in the election in Greece. Including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who subsequently congratulated Coventry on Instagram for election. “I look forward to further cooperation with you in the coming years”he adds. This cooperation is expected to take at least eight years – enough time for Infantino to familiarize yourself with the right first name of the IOC President.
The choice of the new IOC President is also perceived in politics. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser, who is also the Minister of Sports Minister, sees the IOC through the election of Coventrys “Younger, female and modern. This is a step that can have a significant impact on top sport and its national associations.”
Putin also congratulates
Faeser’s Russian counterpart, Sports Minister Mikhail Degtjarjow, communicated hopes that Russia, despite the continuing war against Ukraine under Coventry, could be broken down again, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Coventry.
The German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB) congratulated on the election and will soon be looking for the exchange to underline their own application ambitions. Coventry know, “What a successful future of the Olympic sport is needed”said DOSB President Thomas Weikert.
Athletes express criticism
According to Karla Borger, President of the Athlete Germany Association, the choice of two-time swimming Olympic champion Coventry is “A strong signal to all women who strive for leadership roles in sports”. In addition, the personnel open “Also the possibility to bring the perspectives of the global south even more to the Olympic movement”.
But more critical tones from the ranks of athletes Germany were also heard after the election of Coventry. So the managing director Johannes Herber commented on the sports show: “Kirsty Coventry was the chair of the IOC athlete commission. As such, I did not experience it as particularly open, she was very close to Thomas Bach’s line. In my eyes, she did not always contribute to the fact that debates could be opened openly. And therefore she now has to prove that she can actually be a president for athletes.”