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≡ IOC TRANSITION ≡
Both current International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach (GER) and President-elect Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) attended the Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly in Kuwait City (KUW), with Bach noting that Asia hosted three consecutive Olympic Games: 2018 Winter in PyeongChang (KOR), 2020/21 in Tokyo (JPN) and 2022 Winter in Beijing (CHN), calling them “the defining chapter of my Presidency” and
“Each one took place under uniquely challenging circumstances, and each one rising to the occasion to become a historic success for the host countries and for the entire Olympic Movement …
“With an Asian Olympic host, we turned great adversity into a historic success for the entire Olympic Movement. We appreciate the Asian can-do spirit.”
He added:
“All this makes it emotional for me to address you today for the last time as IOC President. Today, I do not say ‘farewell.’ Today, I say ‘see you soon.’”
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Coventry also addressed the OCA, underscoring her background as a five-time Olympian a seven-time medal winner and former head of the IOC Athletes’ Commission:
“As I begin my journey as IOC President, my first priority is to listen. I want to hear from you – from your [National Olympic Committees], from your athletes – about what you need, what you expect, and how you see your role in shaping the future of our Olympic Movement.
“Because it is only by listening that we can truly listen from one another, and move forward together.
“As a proud Olympian, I can promise you this: athletes will remain at the heart of everything I do. But the question is: how do we better support athletes on their journey to become Olympians?
“To do this, we need to listen carefully to the athletes themselves, and to the NOCs who work tirelessly to support them every step of the way. That is why I see the work of the IOC in two broad pillars – one at elite level, delivering the Olympic Games, and secondly at the community level, spreading our Olympic values among the people.”
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Coventry will take office during a ceremony in Lausanne on Olympic Day, 23 June. The cycle of Asian hosts of Olympic events has slowed, with Olympic and Winter Games in 2024-26-28-30-32-34 in Europe, the U.S. or Australia, but India is among multiple nations seeking the 2036 Olympic Games.
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