Kirsty Coventry Triumphs Over Seb Coe in IOC Presidency Vote

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No appetite for change inside the ultimate private members’ club as Thomas Bach will be succeeded by his preferred candidate at end of 12-year Lausanne reign

 

In a closely watched election that unfolded in southern Greece, Kirsty Coventry emerged victorious over Sebastian Coe, securing the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in a result that many saw as a win for continuity rather than reform.

 

 

While the election of Coventry—the first female president of the IOC—is being hailed as a historic milestone for gender equality in sports leadership, the reality behind the scenes suggests otherwise. This was, in many ways, a confirmation of outgoing president Thomas Bach’s enduring influence, ensuring that his preferred successor would take over when his 12-year reign in Lausanne officially ends.

 

Sports Correspondent asks IOC President Kirsty Coventry whether the sports body will comply with Donald Trump's stance that trans women should be banned from women's sport at the Olympics. 

Sports Correspondent @RobHarris asks IOC President Kirsty Coventry whether the sports body will comply with Donald Trump's stance that trans women should be banned from women's sport at the Olympics.

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— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 20, 2025

 

Despite publicly insisting that he had no favored candidate, the 71-year-old Bach’s support for Coventry was an open secret. The election, which some anticipated would be a drawn-out affair, concluded within minutes, with the official announcement taking slightly longer—more akin to an Oscars-style awards ceremony than a contentious leadership race.

 

 

For Lord Coe, the outcome was a significant setback, though not an unexpected one. As the reformist candidate in a seven-person contest, his vision for modernization never gained the traction he had hoped for. His defeat became all but inevitable when Bach, who was also named honorary life president, delivered an emotional farewell speech that underscored the organization’s reluctance to embrace change.

 

Of the 97 IOC members eligible to vote, Coventry secured 49 votes, surpassing the minimum majority needed. Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. followed with 28, while Coe trailed far behind with only eight. Many within the IOC found the prospect of electing Samaranch—son of a former IOC president with ties to China and Spain’s Franco-era politics—unpalatable, making Coventry’s path to victory all the more straightforward.

 

Coe, ever the sportsman, accepted his defeat with grace. He acknowledged his disappointment but emphasized the importance of having an athlete at the helm of the Olympic movement. Yet the election results underscored a harsh reality: the most qualified or reformist candidate does not always win. "The machine has won on this occasion," remarked one well-placed observer, pointing out that nearly three-quarters of the IOC’s voting membership was appointed during Bach’s tenure.

 

Some, like Japan’s Morinari Watanabe, fought hard for their visions of change—his proposal of an Olympics spanning five continents, with 24-hour rolling TV coverage, was met with skepticism, earning him only three additional votes (assuming he voted for himself). Meanwhile, Coe had assembled a robust campaign team, but it was ultimately no match for Coventry’s seemingly effortless victory. Despite lacking a high-profile PR operation, she secured the presidency with little more than a modest manifesto written alongside her husband and a single PR aide, who was absent from the proceedings due to prior commitments.

 

Reports suggest that Bach and his allies actively lobbied for Coventry deep into the election process. While he denied mentoring her directly, it was clear that she was the candidate he trusted to preserve the status quo. His remarks following the election contained a subtle rebuke to Coe and other critics of the IOC’s secretive voting process. “There is a good democratic rule: when you don’t win an election, you don’t blame the voters and you don’t blame the procedure,” Bach said, reinforcing the idea that the organization had no appetite for structural reform.

 

As Coventry took the stage for her first press conference as president-elect, she was immediately questioned about her political ties to Zimbabwe. Her acceptance of a $100,000 cash reward from Robert Mugabe in 2008 after winning her second Olympic gold had long been a point of controversy.

 

However, more significant concerns center on her role as Zimbabwe’s minister of sport and youth in a government led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa—nicknamed “The Crocodile” for his ruthless leadership—who remains under sanctions from the UK and the US.

 

International human rights groups have condemned Mnangagwa’s administration for its repression of journalists and political opponents. The UK government has called on Zimbabwe’s leaders to uphold democratic principles and human rights. Critics argue that Coventry’s involvement in such a regime raises ethical questions about her suitability to lead the IOC.

 

Addressing these concerns, Coventry defended her position, stating, “In terms of my country, I chose to try to create change from the inside. It gets criticized, and that’s OK. But I don’t think it’s right to scream from the sidelines. You have to be at the table.” While her remarks are unlikely to quell skepticism about her political affiliations, they reflect her belief in working within existing structures rather than challenging them outright—an approach that may have resonated with IOC members seeking stability over transformation.

 

She also fielded questions about how she would handle geopolitical tensions, particularly with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon and the potential return of Donald Trump to the US presidency. “I’ve dealt with difficult men in high positions since I was 20 years old,” she said.

 

“Communication is key. But my firm belief is that President Trump is a big fan of sports, and he will want these Games to be significant.”

 

For Coe, the defeat marked the end of what may have been the toughest race of his career. Reflecting on the experience, he said, “You can only do what is in front of you. What I tried to do was really understand what the challenges were, articulate them, and then it was up to the membership.”

 

Some observers in Greece quipped that Coventry’s victory was the biggest win for her namesake since the 1987 FA Cup final. But for many, this was no joking matter. It was a missed opportunity for meaningful reform, a testament to Bach’s enduring influence, and a moment that cemented the IOC’s resistance to change even as its leadership shifts.

 

Based on a report by The Times  2025-03-22

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

Clearly losing 8 to 49 wasn’t just a defeat, it was a clear signal that Coe couldn’t get anywhere the votes needed.

 

That a candidate so far out of contention  could possibly bring change is not at all realistic.