Kirsty urges unity in IOC

INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry has urged unity within the movement in the face of challenges afflicting sport across the world.In her address to the IOC Federation Forum, Coventry highlighted the collective responsibility of the global sports community in ensuring that the Olympic Movement remains relevant and inspiring in an increasingly turbulent world.“We all have the same purpose, and that is to ensure that our sports remain relevant, that we create platforms for athletes to realise their hopes and their dreams and to be able to live those hopes and dreams,” she stressed.“All of you in the room have the responsibility and the keys to unlocking the future dreams of athletes.”The IOC president highlighted the importance of working together to protect the future of sport and the strength that unity brings.“We are faced today with many challenges and obstacles, and we are only going to be able to overcome them if we work together.“My coach always used to tell me that we’re only as strong as our weakest link.

So, to ensure that the weakest link is just as strong as you are, you work together, you embrace each other, you hold each other accountable, and you find ways to get stronger together.“And this is what all of us in this room need to do.

We need to ensure that we are strengthening our policies on the protection of athletes.“We need to ensure that we are protecting, and finding new and innovative ways to uphold, our principles and values.”She also acknowledged the diversity of opinions among stakeholders.“I am sure that many of you and I are not always going to agree in the next few years, but that is okay too, because just like a family, I hope we will always try to make decisions for the betterment and the strength of the family.”On the need to remain meaningful and impactful for the next generation, Coventry said: “We want the next generation to be able to have faith in who we are.“They have to trust us, they have to understand the policies we are putting in place.

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