Cuba Congratulates Kirsty Coventry on Her Historic Election as IOC President
Cuba congratulates Kirsty Coventry on becoming the first woman president of the IOC. The Cuban Olympic Committee and sports authorities express confidence in her leadership. Coventry, a two-time Olympic champion, won decisively in the election held in Greece, with strong support from her peers.
Cuba has expressed its congratulations to Kirsty Coventry on her election as the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), marking a historic moment as she becomes the first woman to hold this position. The Cuban Olympic Committee (COC) shared their sentiments via Facebook, emphasizing their confidence that her leadership will significantly enhance international sports. They also extended their best wishes, highlighting their commitment to support her endeavors.
Vento Montiller, the head of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (Inder), publicly conveyed similar congratulatory messages. He commended Coventry as not only the first female president but also the inaugural representative from the African continent to achieve this role, wishing her success in her new position.
At 41, Coventry, an accomplished swimmer and Olympic champion in the 200m backstroke at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games, secured her presidency with 49 votes from the 97 participating IOC members in the election held in Costa Navarino, Greece. Although a closely contested vote was anticipated, she achieved a decisive victory in a single round, aided by the endorsement of Thomas Bach and female IOC members, as well as support from other African delegates.
Coventry led her nearest rival, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. from Spain, by 19 votes. Other candidates trailed significantly, with Sebastian Coe from Britain obtaining eight votes, followed by Morinari Watanabe from Japan with four votes, and the remaining participants receiving even fewer votes, indicating a clear preference among IOC members for Coventry’s leadership.
In conclusion, Kirsty Coventry’s election as president of the IOC is a groundbreaking achievement, being the first woman to occupy this role. Different sports authorities, especially in Cuba, have praised her victory, expressing confidence in her ability to influence international sports positively. Coventry’s clear victory underscores the support she garnered from various IOC members, foreshadowing an impactful leadership for the committee.
Original Source: www.plenglish.com
