By Dickson Bandera
Change is coming to the Olympic programme, and it will not be comfortable for everyone, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry warned on Tuesday, as she signalled a major reassessment of how the world’s biggest sporting spectacle evolves in a rapidly changing global landscape.
In a keynote address delivered ahead of her first Olympic Games as IOC president—and as the first woman to lead the organisation in its 130-year history—Coventry outlined what is emerging as the defining theme of her presidency: reform with purpose.
Coventry last June initiated a comprehensive review of more than 450 medal events administered by over 40 international sports federations across the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
“We have to be honest about what works, and sometimes more importantly, what doesn’t,” she told the IOC’s annual session, held days before the opening of the Milano–Cortina Winter Olympics.
“It means we have to look at our sports, disciplines and events with fresh eyes to ensure we are evolving with our times,” she said. “We will face difficult decisions and conversations—this is part of change. These discussions may be uncomfortable, but they are essential if the Games are to remain strong for generations to come.”
A Tradition More Than a Century Old
The modern Olympic Games, revived in 1896 in Athens under the vision of Pierre de Coubertin, have evolved from a modest, male-only sporting gathering into a global event involving more than 200 nations and thousands of athletes. Over the decades, the Olympic programme has expanded, contracted, and adapted in response to social change, technological advancement, and shifting global tastes.
While some sports—such as athletics, swimming, and gymnastics—have remained central pillars since the early years, others have come and gone. The IOC has historically balanced tradition with renewal, introducing new disciplines to maintain relevance while preserving the Games’ identity as the pinnacle of sporting excellence.
In recent years, the Summer Games have deliberately courted younger audiences by adding urban and youth-oriented sports such as skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, and 3-on-3 basketball, while breaking (breakdancing) made its Olympic debut at the Paris Games.
“We must ensure the Games remain inspiring for young people everywhere,” said Coventry, a two-time Olympic swimming champion. “They must reflect their values, their sense of authenticity, and their search for something genuine.”
Her emphasis on “balance between tradition and innovation” has placed long-established sports—including modern pentathlon, which has featured at the Olympics since 1912—under renewed scrutiny ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“Paris was a great success, but that moment is now in the past,” Coventry cautioned. “It would be dangerous to rest on our laurels.”
The findings of the Olympic programme review, part of Coventry’s broader “Fit for the Future” reform agenda, are expected later this year.
A New Leadership Era
Coventry’s rise to the IOC presidency marks a historic shift for the Olympic movement. A decorated former swimmer, she is Africa’s most successful Olympian, having won seven Olympic medals for Zimbabwe between 2004 and 2008, including two gold medals in the 200m backstroke.
Beyond the pool, Coventry transitioned into sports governance, serving as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Recreation and later as an IOC executive board member. Her appointment reflects the IOC’s growing emphasis on athlete-centred leadership and gender inclusion at the highest level of global sport.
More Sport, Less Politics
Another defining feature of Coventry’s emerging presidency is a renewed focus on sport itself, rather than political engagement—despite her own background in public office.
Her predecessor, Thomas Bach, who sat alongside her at Tuesday’s meeting, presided over a 12-year tenure marked by close alignment between the IOC and the United Nations, as well as increased institutional expansion.
Bach’s final keynote address ahead of the Paris Games strongly defended the multilateral world order at a time of global geopolitical tension.
“We are a sports organisation,” Coventry reiterated. “We understand politics. We know we do not operate in a vacuum. But our game is sport.”
Her anticipated first meeting with United States President Donald Trump, as preparations intensify for the Los Angeles Olympics, is being closely watched within Olympic circles.
Upholding Olympic Values
Despite her narrower focus, Coventry has pledged unwavering commitment to Olympic values, including diversity, inclusion, and human development through sport.
“That diversity is one of our greatest strengths,” she told more than 100 IOC members. “What an extraordinary group we all are.”
She reaffirmed the IOC’s continued support for initiatives in health, education, and social inclusion, insisting that the Olympic movement must remain a force for unity in a fractured world.
“When we act with empathy and purpose, there is no challenge we cannot face,” Coventry said. “This is the Olympic spirit that defines us.”
