Also known as: IOC president Kirsty Coventry · Coventruy · Coventy
International Olympic Committee president; advocated gender testing for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics amid controversy.
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The Namibian
Kirsty Coventry won last year's IOC presidential election
“The 69-year-old Briton who won two Olympic 1 500m golds stood in last year's IOC presidential election won by Kirsty Coventry, who happens to be an opponent of prize money at the Olympics.”
Prize money ‘critical’ for athletics, says CoeThe Namibian
IOC president Kirsty Coventry said all athletes should have possibility to compete without being held responsible for government actions
“"We made it clear that we wanted to ensure all athletes have the possibility to compete at the Olympic Games and not be held responsible for their government's actions," IOC president Kirsty Coventry said at a meeting in Lausanne.”
IOC eases restrictions on Russians before 2028 LA Games as anthem, flag ban remainsThe Namibian
Kirsty Coventry said she was confident for successful hosting of 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles
“Olympic chief Kirsty Coventry said on Wednesday she was confident for the successful hosting of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles despite what she described as "challenges" for the World Cup.”
Olympic chief confident for LA Games despite World Cup ‘challenges’The Namibian
IOC president Kirsty Coventry said on Thursday athletes tested in illegal countries will have possibility to test at other competitions
“IOC president Kirsty Coventry said on Thursday: "If it is illegal in a country, athletes will have the possibility when they travel to other competitions to be tested there."”
IOC's new gender testing throws up multiple questionsThe Namibian
Kirsty Coventry said the organisation should focus on sport to preserve its neutrality
“The new International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry said on Tuesday the organisation should "focus" on sport in order to preserve its neutrality.”
IOC chief Coventry calls for focus on sport, not politicsThe Namibian
Kirsty Coventry has launched a wide-reaching consultation on the future of the Olympic movement
“Since her election in March last year, the 42-year-old Zimbabwean former swimmer has launched a wide-reaching consultation on the future of the Olympic movement, while remaining tight-lipped about her own opinion on political issues.”
IOC chief Coventry calls for focus on sport, not politicsThe Namibian
Kirsty Coventry arrives in Namibia for continental athlete's forum
“The newly-elected International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, Kirsty Coventry, arrives in Namibia today for the continental athlete's forum scheduled from 5 to 6 April in the capital.”
IOC president in Namibia for African athletes forumThe Namibian
Kirsty Coventry is first woman and first African elected to IOC presidency
“He says Conventry is both the first woman and first African to be elected to the IOC presidency.”
IOC president in Namibia for African athletes forumSebastian Coe, World Athletics president, says prize money is "critical" for track and field, citing his decision to award $50,000 to gold medallists at the 2024 Paris Olympics—a move that initially drew criticism from the IOC and other federations for departing from Olympic tradition. Coe also announced a new World Athletics Ultimate Championships with a $10 million prize pool.
14 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Sebastian Coe, World Athletics president, says prize money is "critical" for track and field, citing his decision to award $50,000 to gold medallists at the 2024 Paris Olympics—a move that initially drew criticism from the IOC and other federations for departing from Olympic tradition. Coe also announced a new World Athletics Ultimate Championships with a $10 million prize pool.
14 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The International Olympic Committee lifted some restrictions allowing Russian athletes to compete in team events and qualifying competitions for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, though bans on the Russian national anthem and flag remain in place for now. Returning Russian athletes must pass "multiple" doping tests before participating, and individual sports may decide whether to allow the flag and anthem at their own events.
7 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Olympic chief Kirsty Coventry expressed confidence in the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games despite "challenges" affecting the 2026 World Cup in North America, including the US refusal of entry to African referee Omar Artan and other visa-related disruptions.
10 June 2026 · The Namibian →
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe called the IOC's March decision to introduce gender testing for Olympic eligibility a "very important development," limiting Olympic women's sports from 2028 Los Angeles to biological females and those without differences in sexual development. The announcement drew mixed reactions: while Coe welcomed the move, French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari called it "a step backwards," and the gene's discoverer argued that defining biological sex entirely by chromosomes is "overly simplistic."
1 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Sport minister Sanet Steenkamp and deputy minister Dino Ballotti met International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry in Lausanne to discuss strengthening Namibia's sport infrastructure, athlete empowerment, and Olympic collaboration with the Namibia National Olympic Committee.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The International Olympic Committee reinstated genetic sex testing for female athletes at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, banning transgender and many intersex athletes from women's sports. South African distance runner Caster Semenya criticized the policy as "a disrespect for women," expressing disappointment that it was implemented under Zimbabwean IOC president Kirsty Coventry, noting that African and Global South women are disproportionately affected by such measures.
30 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The International Olympic Committee has announced the reintroduction of gender testing through SRY gene screening, last used in 1996, to protect female competition categories. The move raises practical, legal, ethical and scientific questions, with critics including the scientist who discovered the SRY gene arguing the approach is overly simplistic and lacks scientific consensus linking the test to sporting performance, while affected athletes report severe personal and financial consequences.
27 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Four years after expelling Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, FIFA and the International Olympic Committee have taken a muted stance toward the recent US-led attack on Iran, prompting experts to accuse them of applying inconsistent standards and prioritizing powerful nations over principle.
10 March 2026 · The Namibian →
International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry says the organisation should focus on sport and preserve its neutrality, telling IOC members that while politics cannot be entirely separated from their work, the Games must remain a neutral ground where athletes can compete free from political divisions.
4 February 2026 · The Namibian →