“It has been an election that has surprised me, has taken it with a lot of difference and therefore She is a president who has very powerful support. That is a good way to start a presidency “he said Juan Antonio Samaranch After knowing the victory by absolute majority in the first round of Kirsty Coventry in the race to preside over the International Olympic Committee. Such a resounding triumph that it showed that it was always the preferential commitment of the members of the Assembly, and with such clarity that it is hard to believe that the exnadora had not also won that he had to face more rounds in search of the absolute majority.
Coventry’s strategy, a favorite bet of the outgoing president, Thomas BachIt was a success. Bold by the historical conditions that gathered his profile -first woman, first African, much younger than her rivals-, his team worked to obtain enough support to solve the vote to the first, without waiting for the successive elimination of rivals to reinforce its greatest adversary, which turned out to be Samaranch. Anyway, the 49 votes he obtained also placed it on the edge of the triumph of having to face more rounds. Its success is also explained through the failure of Sebastian Coeunable to convince the Anglo -Saxon bloc of voters, which he did strongly trust the new president and stopped the last opportunity of the legendary exatleta of being president.
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Samaranch ends his current mandate as vice president in 2026. Thursday was placed “Total available” of Coventry, who will have the power to name some – not all – members of the Executive. The Spanish leader was affectionate and elegant in his assessment of Kirsty’s success. “If she loves me and I can provide value, I will be by her side “. But he has not decided anything beyond 2026. “We’ll see. Now I have a hard time thinking about introducing myself to nothing after the result”.
The transition, consensual
Coventry He will not be invested president until June 23. Bach and the elected president agreed yesterday at a first joint meeting to take “in a consensual way” the decisions that proceed to the transfer of final powers of June 23, although Coventry’s opinion will prevail in case of discrepancy.
“I have assured him that as of today (Friday) no decision will be made above it. It will be done in full consultation. And if there are different points of view between her and me, her point of view will prevail”Said Thomas Bach, a few hours after sharing a breakfast with Kirsty Coventry. “In that breakfast it was not about giving advice. It was rather to discuss technical aspects and the dates of the transition. And that will imply discussions and presentations by each of the COI departments”.
Bach explained this Friday that he will direct a last meeting of the IOC Executive Commission on April 9, with his physically at his side. Coventry will already preside over the executive commission planned for June 24, the day after the transfer of powers. During the transition period, the outgoing president Rubrique is expected to be the headquarters of the Organizing Committee of the Alps-2030 Winter Games, after March 14, the letter that formalizes the commitment of the French government officially was sent to the IOC.
