4 d. ago Newly elected IOC President Kirsty Coventry celebrated on return home to Zimbabwe

Newly elected International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry has arrived in her home country of Zimbabwe to a hero’s welcome as her victory is celebrated as a national milestone

Politics

7 d. ago So it’s victory for Kirsty Coventry in the IOC elections. Who says cards with a rigged deck isn’t an Olympic sport? | Marina Hyde

The Zimbabwean has global sport’s top job but Britain’s Sebastian Coe was snubbed, and with good reason: he might have changed thingsCongratulations to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the surprise election of its new president, Kirsty Coventry, confirming its status as one of the few electorates on Earth never to have had a change election. Another one is Fifa, with those two organisations’ eternal contest to be the worst-run governing body remaining easily the hardest-fought rivalry in world sport.Yes, the IOC has been in its 144th special session to elect a new leader. Don’t worry – it hasn’t been all hard beds, spartan canteens and bad lighting, as is inflicted on the poor old cardinals in Conclave. The three-day event inevitably took place at a five-star luxury Greek resort.Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication...

Politics

7 d. ago Thomas Bach ‘relieved’ as IOC members vote in Kirsty Coventry as his successor

Coventry has been seen by many observers as the continuity candidate.

Politics

7 d. ago Why Seb Coe lost the room in crushing IOC presidential election defeat

Lord Coe finished a distant third in the race for the prestigious role leading the Olympic movement after making enemies inside the IOC, writes Lawrence Ostlere – but that was not the only reason

Politics

7 d. ago Seb Coe gracious after crushing defeat to Kirsty Coventry in IOC presidential election

Lord Coe earned just eight of 97 votes

Politics

7 d. ago Sebastian Coe secures only eight votes as Kirsty Coventry elected IOC president

Coventry secured the absolute majority necessary for victory in the very first round.

Politics

7 d. ago Kirsty Coventry elected first female president of IOC as Coe denied in vote

Zimbabwean former swimmer won majority in first roundSebastian Coe and Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr lose outThe former Olympic swimming champion Kirsty Coventry has become the first woman to lead the International Olympic Committee in its 131-year history, after winning a shock first round win over a seven-strong field that included Britain’s Sebastian Coe.The 41-year-old Coventry won 49 of the 97 votes of the IOC membership, giving her an immediate majority and also making her the first African to become IOC president and the most powerful woman in global sport. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Kirsty Coventry elected first female president of IOC as Coe routed in vote

Zimbabwean former swimmer won majority in first roundSebastian Coe is third; Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr secondThe former Olympic swimming champion Kirsty Coventry has become the first woman to lead the International Olympic Committee in its 131-year history, after a shock first-round win over a seven-strong field that included Britain’s Sebastian Coe.The 41-year-old Coventry won 49 of the 97 votes of the IOC membership, giving her an immediate majority and also making her the first African to become IOC president and the most powerful woman in global sport. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago IOC presidential election LIVE: Kirsty Coventry beats Seb Coe to claim historic victory

Lord Coe is up against Juan Antonio Samaranch, whose father was IOC president for 21 years, and Zimbabwean former swimmer Kirsty Coventry in a battle for the most powerful post in sport

Politics

8 d. ago BREAKING: Seb Coe falls short as IOC votes for Kirsty Coventry to become next president

In a minor shock just one round of voting was required to elect Kirsty Coventry as the IOC's 10th president and first female and African to be handed the biggest job in world sport

Politics

8 d. ago IOC presidential elections: Sebastian Coe and rivals target highest office in sport – live

Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr favourite of seven contendersInside the Olympic conclave | And feel free to mail SimonIt is a big day in the sporting boardroom and backstage hustling department, with Thomas Bach stepping down as president of the International Olympic Committee after 12 years (and taking on the new role of Honorary President for Life: “When I was elected as President 12 years ago, my first words were ‘ouf’, and it’s the same now,” he said in response) and thus forcing them to find someone to replace him. Today we find out who that person will be.There are seven candidates. All of them have published lengthy candidature documents, translated into several languages, which you can find via their individual pages on the IOC website, or from here. They are also profiled more succinctly at insidethegames here. But in very brief, they are:This is pretty simple. At around 2pm GMT a secret ballot of all IOC members (there are currently 109 of them, including all seven candidates, t...

Politics

8 d. ago IOC presidential election LIVE: Seb Coe bids for Olympic throne in fiercely contested seven

Lord Coe is up against Juan Antonio Samaranch, whose father was a president for 21 years, and Zimbabwean former swimmer Kirsty Coventry in a battle for the most powerful post in sport

Politics

8 d. ago It's election day for the IOC choosing a new Olympics leader in a hard

A new president of the IOC will be elected Thursday as just the 10th leader in its 131-year history after one of the most open Olympic elections in decades

Politics

8 d. ago What time is the IOC presidential election, who are the candidates and how does the vote work?

Seb Coe battles Juan Antonio Samaranch – son of the seventh IOC president – and decorated Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry for the prestigious role running the Olympic movement

Politics

9 d. ago Inside Seb Coe’s race for biggest job in sport ahead of IOC's secret election

Three candidates are in a race to be elected the next president of the IOC with winner set for daunting prospect of working alongside Donald Trump ahead of LA Olympics

Politics

1 week ago Inside the secret battle for the highest office in sport: ‘No one tells you the truth’

Lord Coe faces a seven-way fight to becomes president of the IOC in Thursday’s election in Greece. Lawrence Ostlere delves behind the scenes in the race for power

Society

1 week ago Inside the IOC’s secret presidential election and Seb Coe’s battle for power

Lord Coe faces a seven-way fight to lead the Olympic movement in Thursday’s presidential election in Greece. Lawrence Ostlere delves behind the scenes in the race for the most powerful job in sport

Politics

1 week ago Sir Craig Reedie criticises IOC presidential election for ‘lack of transparency’

Exclusive: Sir Craig Reedie, the former IOC vice-president and chairman of the British Olympic Committee, has condemned the process leading to Thursday’s crucial election as ‘far too secretive’

Politics

2 w. ago Coe targets Musk and Zuckerberg talks over ‘pond life’ abuse of female athletes

IOC presidency candidate wants discussions if elected‘It is vital that women feel that sport is a safe space’Sebastian Coe will demand urgent talks with Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to stop “pond life” abusing female sports stars with impunity if he becomes International Olympic Committee president.Speaking after a week in which Emma Raducanu spoke about not being able “see the ball through tears” after being approached by a stalker, and Eilish McColgan faced a blizzard of hate after posting a video of her running on social media, Lord Coe pledged to create a taskforce to find better ways to protect female athletes. Continue reading...

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