Kirsty Coventry has made history as the first woman and African IOC president, winning the election in under ten minutes with 49 votes. The election featured a record seven candidates, and Coventry’s swift victory was notable in IOC history.

Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe has made history by becoming the first female and African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This landmark achievement occurred in Costa Navarino, Greece, conveniently located near Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games.

The election, regarded as unpredictable, concluded in under ten minutes, with the 41-year-old Coventry securing the necessary majority in just one round of voting. Although she was considered a frontrunner with support from outgoing President Thomas Bach, there was no clear favorite among the seven candidates.

Coventry received 49 out of 97 votes, while IOC Vice-President Juan Antonio Samaranch trailed in second place with 28 votes. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe garnered 8 votes, and both UCI President David Lappartient and FIG President Morinari Watanabe received 4 votes each. Additionally, IOC Executive Board member Prince Feisal Al Hussein and FIS President Johan Eliasch obtained 2 votes each.

Kirsty Coventry’s election as the first woman and African president of the IOC marks a significant milestone in Olympic history. Her swift election victory reflects her prominent standing in the Olympic community, despite a competitive field of candidates. As she embarks on her presidency, her leadership is anticipated to influence the future of the Olympic movement and address pertinent global challenges.

Original Source: www.thenews.com.pk

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