Cuba congratulated Kirsty Coventry on her election as the first female president of the IOC. Commended by the Cuban Olympic Committee and sports officials, Coventry received significant support, leading to her historic victory with 49 votes. The election highlights a new era for the IOC, with strong backing from key members.
Cuba has publicly congratulated Kirsty Coventry on her election as the first female president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Cuban Olympic Committee (COC) praised her achievement through a message on their Facebook profile, expressing confidence in her ability to make significant contributions to international sports. Additionally, they welcomed the election of Thomas Bach as Honorary Life President, acknowledging his ongoing contributions since 2013.
Vento Montiller, the head of Cuba’s National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (Inder), also expressed congratulations to Coventry via social media. He commended her historic election as the representative of the African continent and the first woman to lead the IOC.
Kirsty Coventry, a two-time Olympic champion in the 200m backstroke from the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games, secured her presidency with 49 votes from the 97 IOC members present during the election held in Costa Navarino, Greece. Contrary to expectations of a prolonged voting process, Coventry’s election concluded in a single round, bolstered by the support from Thomas Bach and other IOC female and African members.
Coventry outperformed her closest rival, Spaniard Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., by 19 votes. Other candidates, such as Briton Sebastian Coe and Japanese Morinari Watanabe, received less support, further highlighting her significant victory.
In summary, Kirsty Coventry’s election as the first woman president of the IOC marks a historic milestone for the organization and international sports. Her strong backing from influential members, including Thomas Bach, solidified her win in a surprising one-round election. Alongside this achievement, Cuba’s expressions of support reflect a continued commitment to bolstering athletics and enhancing representation in global sports leadership.
Original Source: www.plenglish.com
