The International Olympic Committee chooses a woman for the first time as president

Many first times for the International Olympic Committee. For the first time in the history of the IOC, the highest authority will be feminine and African. The new president is the Zimbabuense Kirsty Coventry, 41, Minister of Sports of her country, Olympic Champion in Swimming in 2004 and 2008. The Supply, discipline she practiced, has imposed six men, including the Spanish Juan Antonio Samaranch, and has done it unexpectedly in the first vote.

The Olympic election, in its 144th session, held this Thursday in Greece in a place not far from Olimpia has raised, in the first round to the successor of German Thomas Bach. For the German, who now goes to the honorary presidency of the committee, she was her favorite candidate. Member of the IOC since 2013, it belongs to the commission of athletes. His discreet presence and, at the same time striking in the IOC, in which he has barely intervened in these years, he stood out among the seven candidates not only for his youth, his gender (he was the only woman with six men), his Africanity and conservatism, because he has not even campaigned by advocating the empowerment of women. However, Bach had pointed out to happen and enjoys all the power of conviction of his patron, who says he effectively handles his threads. It represents its showcase policy.

Among the challenges that the new COI president must face is the participation of transgender athletes in competitions. Currently, the IOC allows each federation to decide what rules imposes trans women and those with “differences in sexual development” to be able to compete in the female categories. And several of these federations have opted in recent years to harden the norms, a position that, as they have published several media, shares Coventry, which has been in favor of the agency that goes on to direct from now on “assume the leadership role” on this issue.

“Research has been conducted that show a disadvantage for women,” he justified on the participation of trans women. “More scientific and medical research is being carried out,” but “we need to protect the female category,” has been spoken in recent months.