The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry, arrived in Lima, Peru, to attend the Panam Sports General Assembly, where she highlighted the work being carried out by the Pan-American organization under the leadership of its president and IOC member, Neven Ilic. Her visit was marked by a central idea: the future of sport in the Americas requires institutions capable of adapting to change, listening to their members and putting athletes at the center of the decisions that will shape the coming years.
Against this backdrop, Coventry highlighted the similarities between Panam Sports’ strategy, known as “Moving Forward Together”, and the new strategic direction of the Olympic Movement, “Fit for the Future”. Both initiatives seek to respond to a sporting landscape that demands new approaches to management, stronger National Olympic Committees (NOCs), support for athletes, good governance, sports development, revenue generation, brand building and digital transformation. For the IOC president, the fact that these priorities feature in both agendas reflects a shared vision for the path sport in the Americas should follow.
A strategy centered on athletes and National Olympic Committees
During her speech, Coventry particularly praised Panam Sports for working alongside its NOCs to collectively shape its next chapter. The “Moving Forward Together” plan encompasses areas that go beyond the organization of major events, including institutional strengthening, sports development and the search for new opportunities to generate resources. Digital transformation is also part of this roadmap, at a time when sports organizations need to engage with audiences that consume content and follow competitions in increasingly diverse ways.
The IOC president also stressed that athletes must continue to be the starting point for the Olympic Movement’s decisions. In this regard, she referred to measures that are already shaping “Fit for the Future”, including the new Olympic grant, efforts to build a more balanced, relevant and sustainable sports programme, and initiatives aimed at protecting the neutrality of sport. Coventry also thanked Panam Sports and the National Olympic Committees of the Americas for their participation in the consultation process led by the IOC, highlighting the importance of incorporating the different realities that coexist within the Movement.
Lima 2027 as a prelude to Los Angeles 2028
The focus on the future was also directly linked to the next major events that will take place across the continent. Coventry described the Lima 2027 Pan American Games as a particularly important moment for athletes in the region, not only because of the competition itself, but also because of its place on the road to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028. The Pan American event will form part of the preparation for many athletes seeking to arrive in the United States in the best possible condition to compete for an Olympic spot and, subsequently, a medal.
During her stay in Lima, the IOC president also joined the Panam Sports Executive Committee and met with members of its Athletes’ Commission. Before the General Assembly, she was received at the Government Palace by Peru’s president, Keiko Fujimori, with whom she discussed preparations for Lima 2027 and the Peruvian government’s support for the event. Coventry was accompanied by Neven Ilic and also received support from IOC member in Peru, Cecilia Tait, throughout her schedule in the Peruvian capital. The General Assembly brought together leaders of the National Olympic Committees of the Americas, athlete representatives and various stakeholders from the Olympic Movement in the region.
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