Kirsty Coventry, newly appointed president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has announced the formation of a working group to address the complex issue of gender in sport.
Speaking after her first executive board meeting on Thursday, Coventry affirmed her commitment to safeguarding women’s categories while ensuring fairness through a scientific approach.
Coventry, the first woman to lead the Olympic movement, stated that the IOC would no longer take a hands-off approach to gender policies.
Historically, rules around gender eligibility have been determined by individual sporting federations. However, Coventry now intends for the IOC to take a more central role in the matter.
“Members agreed that the IOC should take a leading role in this, and we should be the ones to bring together the experts and the international federations,” she said during a press briefing.
The working group, expected to begin within weeks, will aim to reach a consensus on a gender policy that accommodates the varying requirements of different sports.
Coventry emphasised the importance of balancing inclusion and scientific rigour, stating, “It was very clear we need to protect the female category, but we need to ensure fairness… with a scientific approach.”
Alongside the gender task force, a second working group will be established to review the timeline for awarding future Olympic Games.
Coventry pointed out that recent hosts such as Los Angeles (2028) and Brisbane (2032) were selected more than a decade in advance, while the French Alps only secured the 2030 Winter Games six years ahead of time. The group will evaluate the most effective moment to name future hosts.
Coventry also addressed concerns surrounding the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles amid strained relations between the U.S. government and certain nations.
Tensions have risen, particularly over immigration policies that recently led to visa denials for Cuban and Senegalese athletes. However, Coventry expressed full confidence in the upcoming Games: “There is so much goodwill at all levels of government to see that the Olympic Games are a huge success,” she said, adding that the IOC will uphold its values and resist political interference.
In outlining her vision for the IOC’s future, Coventry said she is eager to grow revenue, reduce expenditure, foster a greater sense of involvement among IOC members, and explore the use of artificial intelligence in organisational processes.
