Thomas Bach had been quietly campaigning in her favor for quite some time. In fact, Coventry participó de forma insólita en la ceremonia de apertura de Tokio 2020 (+1) dándole la bienvenida a los atletas, algo que jamás había ocurrido antesWith this subtle strategy, Bach began to introduce his successor to the global stage.
Last Thursday, in Costa Navarino, Greece, the 144th Session of the International Olympic Committee appointed Olympic swimming champion Kirsty Coventry as its tenth president. For the first time in 131 years, the Olympic movement will be led by a woman and an African, as she is from Zimbabwe, a country in southeastern Africa.
Coventry is currently the most outstanding athlete from her continent. She won 7 of Zimbabwe's 8 Olympic medals and claimed gold in the 200-meter backstroke at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. Her first involvement with the IOC dates back to 2012 when she joined the Athletes' Commission, which she chaired until 2021. That same year, she was elected as an individual member of the organization, a position she can hold until the age of 70.
She was also chairing the coordination commissions for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (the first Olympic event to be held in Africa) and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, positions she will now have to relinquish. However, the most notable fact is that Coventry has served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation since 2018, as part of the cabinet of dictator Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took power following a coup d’état in 2017.It remains uncertain whether she will continue as a public official.
One thing is certain: Thomas Bach had been quietly campaigning in her favor for quite some time. In fact, Coventry participó de forma insólita en la ceremonia de apertura de Tokio 2020 (+1) dándole la bienvenida a los atletas, algo que jamás había ocurrido antesWith this subtle strategy, Bach began to introduce his successor to the global stage.
As a candidate, she was ideal: she is aligned with his gender equality policies while also represents Africa, a continent with over 1.4 billion people that the Olympic movement aims to engage. During his tenure, Bach significantly increased women's participation in the IOC, appointed an equal number of men and women to lead its commissions, and ensured gender parity for the first time at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Additionally, in 2018, he restricted bids for the 2022 YOG to African countries, aiming to bring the first Olympic event to the continent.
Thus, Coventry’s presidential campaign dossier aligned closely with her predecessor’s policies. However, what exactly did she propose regarding transparency, accountability, and governance?
Empty Slogans
Kirsty Coventry outlined five key priorities for her tenure in her candidacy:
- Harnessing the power of sport.
- Maximizing collaboration and engagement.
- Strengthening partnerships for mutual growth.
- Leading sustainable development.
- Fostering credibility and trust..
Regarding this last point, the Zimbabwean promised "zero tolerance for corruption, doping, and unethical behavior." In this vein, she called for "strengthening governance and accountability," yet she did not propose any concrete measures beyond establishing oversight mechanisms (without specifying which ones) and clarifying roles and responsibilities (?).
"As we strive to prioritize good governance and accountability throughout the Olympic Movement, we will continue to focus on more transparent systems. The implementation and monitoring of policies, clearer and more tangible measures, oversight mechanisms , and open communication will generate greater trust among stakeholders. This will be achieved by clarifying roles and responsibilitiesbetter aligning the Olympic Movement, streamlining efforts, reducing redundancies, and enabling each entity to provide more value." (Coventry, 2025, p. 18) (Coventry, 2025, p. 18)
Regarding the “promotion of ethical practices,” Coventry promised “fairness towards all participants" and a "resource allocationto support initiatives that uphold these principles. Additionally, she stated that “all stakeholders will be required to adhere to the highest ethical standards” to protect the Olympic spirit.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect is the use of technology and, specifically, databases to "monitor performance and evaluate programs in real-time" in order to provide stakeholders with "valuable information that strengthens trust in IOC operations." However, it is unclear whether this information will be available to the general public.
Moreover, Coventry's candidacy does not address the issue of athletes' freedom of expression. The document emphasizes that the IOC must present itself as a neutral organization in geopolitical conflicts, which could suggest a stance on athletes' statements regarding conflicts such as Ukraine or Palestine. Nevertheless, it states that athletes should be considered "as more than just competitors," acknowledging the need to support their mental health and overall well-being. It also advocates for open dialogue to ensure their opinions are taken into account "to build a more proactive organization."
Finally, Coventry showed no interest in modifying the current system for selecting Olympic host cities, perhaps the weakest point of Thomas Bach’s tenure in terms of democracy. However, she stated that future hosts must adopt environmentally responsible practices, demonstrate that they will leave a lasting legacy for the city, and ensure gender equality and inclusion in sports. It is noteworthy that, despite her stance on gender issues, Coventry has opposed the participation of transgender athletes in the Olympic Games: “I do not support transgender athletes competing in the Games against female athletes, as it is unfair to them", she stated in an interview with the EFE news agency.
Controversy Over Her Tenure in Zimbabwe
As previously mentioned, Kirsty Coventry has been part of Mnangagwa’s government since 2018, which is currently sanctioned by the United States over suspected Human Rights violations. In fact, the European Union extended its sanctions against his regime this past February. Among the allegations against his government, the most notable is the 2019 massacre of 12 people during protests against rising fuel prices.
Coventry has also faced international scrutiny for her role as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sports. She sparked controversy when she accepted land that had been expropriated from former dictator Robert Mugabe—a clear token of appreciation from the current president. But beyond that, she intervened in Zimbabwe’s Football Federation after cases of abuse against female referees came to light, an act of government interference that violates FIFA statutes. As a result, Zimbabwe has been banned from international football competitions since 2022.
Furthermore, she remained in office despite reports from International Amnesty and Human Rights Watch regarding the 2022 presidential elections, during which opposition rallies were attacked and dissidents were persecuted. Adding to the controversy, she publicly supported the National Youth Service, a paramilitary training program that, according to multiple reports, has been linked to acts of violence against political opponents.. Several African nations have raised concerns about the treatment of young people in the program, citing allegations of sexual abuses, torture training, and prolonged periods without food.
What Did the Other Candidates Propose?
Against all odds, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. finished second in the IOC election, behind Coventry. In his candidacy, the Spanish official had promised to “strengthen governance and member participation, optimize operational efficiency, and enhance accountability.” Specifically, he called for a return to an open-session format that allowed full discussion and debate, rather than mere presentations with predetermined conclusions—particularly in reference to host city elections. Additionally, he pledged to commission a comprehensive operational review of all IOC programs with input from an external advisor, Olympic experts, and IOC members.
Sebastian Coe’s candidacy was perhaps the most critical of Thomas Bach’s current administration. The World Athletics president, who received only eight votes in the election, warned that “many members have expressed concerns about excessive centralization in decision-making.” As a response, the British official pledged to “democratize governance to empower IOC members,” ensuring that key decisions rested in their hands while “guaranteeing greater accountability, transparency, and efficiency.”
Japanese candidate Morinari Watanabe presented the most disruptive governance proposal, suggesting the introduction of a bicameral system within the IOC. His model included a House of Representatives composed of National Olympic Committee presidents and International Federation heads, alongside a Senate made up of the 120 IOC members. Under this system, proposals from the Executive Board would first be debated in the House before being decided upon by the Senate. To make things even more radical, he also suggested that the Olympic Games be hosted simultaneously across all five continents.
Perhaps the candidate who placed the greatest emphasis on governance was David Lappartient, president of the International Cycling Union. The French official dedicated an entire section of his proposal to this topic, calling for the “strict application of Good Governance principles.” He praised the work of ASOIF (the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations) with the federations and demanded that the IOC Ethics Commission “operate with complete independence to ensure impartial handling of complaints, encourage individuals to report abusive behavior, and foster a climate of trust.” Additionally, he called for more IOC members to be involved in financial oversight and proposed the creation of an “Agenda 2036.”
Finally, the proposals from Prince Feisal Al Hussein and Johan Eliasch were the vaguest in terms of transparency and governance. While the Jordanian candidate simply committed to “ensuring that the IOC upholds the highest standards of protection, transparency, and good governance,” the Swedish contender merely pledged to place “great attention on governance.” They didn’t try very hard.
Conclusions
Kirsty Coventry takes over the IOC presidency at a challenging international moment for her agenda. Criticism of “woke” is growing worldwide, while far-right movements are beginning to win elections. In this context, and carrying her controversial track record, the Zimbabwean leader will have to negotiate with none other than Donald Trump, as the role of the United States will be crucial during her tenure: the country is set to host the 2028 Summer Olympics and the 2034 Winter Olympics. Given this scenario, special attention must be paid to her policies on Transparency and Good Governance to determine whether she will bring meaningful change to the organization or, conversely, implement superficial reforms in line with Thomas Bach’s approach.
Sources:: IOC, Swim Swam, Infobae, Cadena Ser.
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