Incoming International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry has hailed Asia’s central place in the Olympic Movement, committing to strengthen ties and listen to athletes and national committees as she prepares to take office. The IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry has underlined the strategic importance of Asia in the global Olympic Movement, as she delivered her first official speech since election during the 45th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in Kuwait. “Asia has always had a special place in the Olympic Movement – and in my heart. It is a region full of dynamism, passion, innovation and ambition. You are not just a vital part of the Olympic community, you are central to its future. A strong and united Asia supported by a strong OCA is so important for our entire movement,” said Coventry, addressing delegates from 45 Asian National Olympic Committees.
Set to succeed Thomas Bach on 23 June, the Zimbabwean former swimmer will become the first woman and first IOC president from outside Europe or North America. In Kuwait, she promised her leadership would prioritise active listening and inclusion. “My first priority is to listen,” Coventry declared, inviting NOCs and athletes to share their expectations and ideas. “Because it is only by listening that we can truly listen from one another, and move forward together.” Coventry’s approach revolves around two main pillars: delivering high-performance sport through the Olympic Games, and promoting Olympic values at the grassroots level. “The question is ‘how do we better support athletes on their journey to become Olympians?’ To do this, we need to listen carefully to the athletes themselves, and to the NOCs who work tirelessly to support them every step of the way.”
Recalling her own Olympic memories, Coventryhighlighted Asia’s influential role in recent years. “The Beijing Olympics raised the bar for all of us. Its sheer scale was something I will never forget.” She pointed out that Asia has hosted three consecutive Olympic Games in the past decade – PyeongChang 2018, Tokyo 2020, and Beijing 2022 – and will continue to innovate with the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in Riyadh in 2027. Coventry also expressed her gratitude to outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach for his leadership, pledging to continue learning from the Asian Olympic community. “I would like to pay homage and thanks to President Bach, who has been an incredible leader for our movement and incredible supporter of Asia, and I want to ensure to all of you that my support for Asia and to learn and to listen from all of you will continue.”
She concluded by reaffirming her commitment to collaboration, “My door will always be open. I am looking forward to the future with all of you, and I’m looking forward to listening and learning from all of you in these next few months to ensure that our movement remains relevant, powerful, and leaving an extraordinary legacy for the next young generation.”
