By Princess Eugene Majuru
Zimbabwe`s time Olympic gold medallist Kirsty Coventry has been elected at the new President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) . Coventry who is currently Zimbabwe`s Sports Minister has had a disappointing performance as Sports Minister and may Zimbabweans have expressed their lack of confidence in her in the last few days. Coventry became Sports Minister in 2018 an appointment made by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Coventry goes down in the history books as she becomes the first woman and first African to be appointed in this position. Britain’s Lord Sebastian Cole failed to win as he had entered the competition as an outsider. The 41 year old Coventry was known to be the preferred successor to the outgoing IOC President Thomas Bach who gave her his full support. Coventry’s victory was announced at the IOC Session in Greece by current president Thomas Bach, who will officially hand over the reins on June 24.
After being elected IOC President Coventry said:
“Dear president and my very dear colleagues, this is an extraordinary moment.
“As a nine-year-old girl I never thought I would be standing up here one day, getting to give back to this incredible movement of ours.
“This is not just a huge honour, but it is a reminder of my commitment to every single one of you, that I will lead this organisation with so much pride, with the values at the core, and I will make all of you very very proud, and also extremely confident in the decision you have made today.
“The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamt of this moment. I am particularly proud to be the first female IOC president, and also the first from Africa. I hope that this vote will be an inspiration to many people. Glass ceilings have been shattered today, and I am fully aware of my responsibilities as a role model.”
On Wednesday, Coventry said: “Let’s create some change, let’s make sure that happens,”. Coventry`s victory came when 49 members out of the majority eligible to vote selected Coventry who now leads the IOC for the next 8 years as President.
Meanwhile Coe is known for leading the bid and organising teams for the London 2012 Games, he chaired of the British Olympic Association from 2012 to 2016. In 2015 he became president of World Athletics. He also chaired the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force and recommended that Manchester United should build a new 100,000-seater stadium as part of a wider project to regenerate the surrounding area. In his campaign Coe had indicated that he wanted to reform the IOC from within and that “too much power is in the hands of too few people”.
Coventry was subsequently described by Paul Chingoka, head of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, as “our national treasure”. The Former and late Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe called her “a golden girl,” and personally awarded her US$100,000 in cash for her 2008 Olympic performance.
Comments
About Author
