Kirtei Coventi chose the new president of the IOC, becomes the first woman and African in the role

CNN
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Kirsti Koventry was elected the 10th president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), becoming the first woman and Africans, when they were elected to this position.

Koventry, 41 years old, will also be the youngest when, having taken this role, and appeared through the field of seven rivals in the Primorsky resort of Costa Navarino in Greece to get the most powerful work in world sports.

Koventry will officially assume the role on June 24 after the current Thomas Bach retires after a 12-year spell.

Koventry will arrive during increased geopolitical uncertainty around the world, notes the direction of the Olympic movement in the 21st century and more attention than when the liba on issues related to gender identity and equality, among others.

“This is an unusual moment. As a nine-year-old girl, I never thought that one day I would stand here to return this incredible movement, ”said Coventry after her elections.

Before becoming a member of the IOC, she was an outstanding athlete Zimbabwe. Coventry won seven of the country’s eight Olympic medals to date.

At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, she won three medals, including gold in 200 meter on her back, before successfully protecting her title four years later.

The first round of voting on Thursday in Greece did not continue without problems when numerous voters complain about problems with their technological voting systems. At some point, the Director General of the IOC Christophe de Cepper, who was conducting a vote, said with humor that the member was “testing his patience” with his complaints.

To the surprise of many, the vote was quickly closed after the first round with the winner, which has already reached the absolute majority (50% + one vote).

And after a 30-minute break, Coventry was declared a replacement for Bach and the 10th President of the IOC; Of the 97 votes, Koventry received 49, and in second place Juan Antonio Samararanch received 28.

“This is not just a great honor, but it is also a reminder of my commitment to each of you that I will lead this organization with such pride for the value at the basis, and I will make all of you very, very proud and extremely confident in the decision that you made today,” said Coventry.

President of the IOC Thomas Bach talks about Trump and the 2028 Olympic Games.

President of the IOC Thomas Bach talks about Trump and the 2028 Olympic Games.

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“Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and now we have some work together. This race was an incredible race, and it made us better, made us a stronger movement. ”

The first major Coventry event in monitoring will be the winter games in Milan Cortin next year in Italy, and the opening ceremony is less than 11 months later.

In her manifesto for the presidency, the IOC Koventri said that she hopes to make a sport “a bridge between countries and cultures, a source of hope and force forever.”

She also emphasized her commitment to the fight against inequality in sports, “which also means strengthening women’s sports, protecting athletes and promoting equal opportunities for women at all levels of our movement.”