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Kirsty Coventry made history on Thursday by becoming the first woman and first African to be elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In her first press conference after the election, Coventry emphasized the strong relationship between the IOC and China.
“The relationship between the IOC and China is very strong, it always has been, and we will continue that way,” Coventry said. “For the IOC, we represent 206 National Olympic Committees and many different international federations, so relationships with every single individual are extremely important. That will be something I focus on over the next few months to strengthen those connections.”
The 41-year-old former Olympic swimmer was elected during the 144th IOC Session in Greece, winning in the first round of a secret ballot conducted by over 100 IOC members. She will officially take office after June 23, succeeding Thomas Bach, who has served as president since 2013.
Gao Zhidan, director of China’s General Administration of Sport and president of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC), congratulated Coventry, stating that her election reflects the trust and support of the Olympic family. Gao expressed confidence that under Coventry’s leadership, the Olympic Movement will reach new heights and emphasized the COC’s commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with the IOC.
Shen Haixiong, president of China Media Group (CMG), also sent a congratulatory letter on behalf of CMG and its employees. “The Olympic values you uphold align closely with CMG’s commitment to advancing media innovation and promoting cultural exchange,” Shen wrote. “We look forward to further deepening the friendly cooperation between CMG and the IOC.”
Shen noted that with Bach’s strong support, CMG and the IOC have built a solid friendship through fruitful collaborations. He added that CMG is actively preparing for the broadcast coverage of the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. “We will continue to deliver a spectacular Olympic audio-visual experience to global audiences and further promote the Olympic Movement and its values,” Shen wrote.
Coventry’s election marks a significant milestone in the history of the Olympic Movement, promising a future of inclusivity and strengthened global partnerships.
