Olympics: Coventry strikes gold!
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has broken with tradition and elected a woman as its new President.
She is Kirtsy Coventry, the Zimbabwe Sports Minister, and, at 41 years old, the youngest ever to hold this prestigious position in the 130-year history of the IOC. She is also the first IOC President from Africa.
The holder of two Olympic gold medals for swimming, she campaigned to protect female sport, supporting a total ban on transgender women competing in female Olympic sports.
She also pledged to promote sustainability, embrace technology and empower athletes.
She remarked that her election was an “extraordinary moment” and also promised to make the IOC members proud of their choice!
We congratulate her and wish her well in her new position as the most powerful woman in world sport!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
