Kirsty Coventry Becomes First Female IOC President

1. Zimbabwean former Olympic swimmer Kirsty Coventry has been appointed as the first-ever female President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
2. Her election marks a significant step toward gender representation in global sports leadership.

About the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

1. The IOC is an independent, not-for-profit international body that governs the Olympic Movement worldwide.
2. It is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, also known as the Olympic Capital.
3. The organization was founded during the first Olympic Congress held in Paris in 1894.
4. The IOC operates with the vision “To Build a Better World through Sport.”

Structure and Funding

1. The IOC is entirely privately funded, ensuring autonomy and financial independence from governments.
2. Notably, it redistributes 90% of its total revenue to support sports development and athlete training at global, national, and grassroots levels.