Synopsis
On March 20, ICC chairman Jay Shah and IPC congratulated Kirsty Coventry for her historic election as the first female president of the IOC in Costa Navarino, Greece. Shah expressed excitement about future collaborations, emphasizing the importance of sports in making impactful changes.Key Takeaways
- Jay Shah and IPC congratulate Kirsty Coventry.
- Coventry is the first female president of the IOC.
- The election took place in Costa Navarino, Greece.
- She will take office on June 23.
- IPC looks forward to strengthening partnerships with the IOC.
New Delhi, March 20 (NationPress) The chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Jay Shah, alongside the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), has extended heartfelt congratulations to Kirsty Coventry for her historic achievement of becoming the first female president of the International Olympic Council (IOC) during an event in Costa Navarino, Greece, on Thursday.
Shah was in attendance at the 144th IOC Session, where Coventry was elected over other notable candidates including HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, David Lappartient, Johan Eliasch, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Lord Sebastian Coe, and Morinari Watanabe.
She will officially take over the presidency from Thomas Bach on June 23.
“Congratulations and best wishes to newly-elected IOC President @KirstyCoventry, an honor thoroughly deserved. I am humbled to have witnessed this moment in Greece after hosting you at the @ICC #ChampionsTrophy. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with you and your team on cricket’s inclusion in the @LA28 Games and beyond,” Shah shared on X.
IPC President Andrew Parsons remarked, “The IOC stands as the IPC’s most significant strategic partner, and on behalf of the entire Paralympic Movement, I extend my congratulations to Kirsty on her election as IOC President.
“Being the first woman and African to hold the IOC presidency is a monumental milestone. Throughout her campaign, Kirsty advocated for leveraging the power of sports to create impactful change. In recent weeks, we have engaged in discussions to strengthen the partnership between the IOC and IPC. We look forward to collaborating with her starting June upon the transition to the new IOC President.
“I would also like to express gratitude to President Bach for his 12 years of service and congratulate him on being named IOC Honorary President for Life. Under Bach’s leadership, the cooperation between the IOC and IPC has significantly strengthened, and I hold our collaborative relationship in high esteem,” he added.
A five-time Olympian, Coventry has been a member of the IOC since 2013 and served on the IOC Executive Board from 2018-2021 and again from 2023 to the present. She was the Chairperson of the IOC Athletes Commission from 2018-2021 and currently chairs the Coordination Commissions for Brisbane 2032 and the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Additionally, she has held the position of Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sport since 2018 and served as Vice President of the International Surfing Federation from 2017 to 2024.
