When, minutes after the first round of voting for the Presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), he warned that one of the candidates had achieved an absolute majority and there was already one winner, everyone was scared.
The initial expectation was that the voters, members of the IOC, would take time to elect the replacement of Thomas Bach. There was no favorite Franco among the seven competitors. Thirty minutes later, the German announced Kirsty Coventry – consisted of her favorite – as a successor. Comparisons began with “Conclave”, the backstage movie of the secret election to choose the Pope.
Coventry’s victory shows Bach’s influence, but especially that, when choosing a young woman, woman and African, the IOC sends a signal to the world that she looks forward.
Coventry, from Zimbabwe, will be the first woman – and the first person on the African continent – in the presidency of COI in 130 years. At 41, it will be the second youngest in office, just behind Baron Pierre de Coubertin.
After the victory, he said “a glass ceiling was shattered.” It is really surprising to have boring the bubble. Coventry is the most decorated Olympic athlete in his country – swimming medals, two gold in five games. But in the IOC since 2013, it has been a relatively short time of an elite club and dominated by white and European men. Even for competent women, depending on the professional environment it can be difficult to have a chance to hold leadership positions.
With 49 votes from the 97 possible, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., who had 28. The Spaniard was member of the IOC for almost 25 years and his father was an emblematic former president. Third, with only eight votes, the British Sebastian Coe, owner of the most extensive resume: Olympic champion, president of the International Athletics Federation, Lord, was at the head of the London-2010 Organizing Committee.
Coe’s defeat was called by the English press “humiliating.” Those who defend him say that the IOC is not prepared for change. Opposition candidate was rigid with the banishment of Russian athletes, and the unilateral decision of giving money to Olympic champions of athletics in Paris-2024 would have annoyed Bach and international federations.
Critics of Coventry, a candidate of the situation, question the fact that she is a sports minister of an authoritarian regime at Zimbabwe and also her efficiency in office.
Now you will have to deal with thorny themes that impact the future of the Olympic Games: participation of transgender athletes – she is in favor of banishment – geopolitical issues, global warming, such as attracting young people. When asked how he would work with Donald Trump until Los Angeles-2028, he said, with class: “I have dealt with, say, difficult men in high positions since I’m 20 years old.” That, Coventry, we don’t doubt it. Any woman in a corporate environment has gone through something similar.
For an organization that prides itself on promoting gender equality, having a woman in the most desired position of world sport gives a huge message. She takes office in June for an eight -year term.
It will be fascinating to see which brand wants to leave and what the future of the Olympic movement will be.
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