The President of the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry, used her first address to the 145th IOC Session in Milan, on the eve of Milano Cortina 2026, to deliver a message that goes beyond the immediate context and speaks to the very heart of the Olympic Movement: growth requires stepping out of the comfort zone. The double Olympic swimming champion appealed to the athlete’s mindset as a model for institutional leadership. Failing, adapting, trying again, and always striving to be better is not only a sporting logic, but also a guide for the governance of world sport.
That spirit, she explained, must guide the process called “Ready for the Future”, an internal conversation aimed at honestly reviewing what works, what does not, and what needs to evolve. For Coventry, the recent success of Paris 2024 is not a reason for complacency, but rather the starting point for deeper reflection: the future of the Olympic Games themselves and, especially, of the Olympic Programme in a rapidly changing world where new generations demand authenticity and coherence.
The Olympic Programme as a reflection of a new era
Coventry argued that one of the most relevant debates facing the IOC is how to achieve the balance between tradition and innovation. Looking at sports, disciplines, and events from a new perspective means accepting that evolution is inevitable and that its effects will reach athletes, federations, national committees, organizers, and fans alike. Under the umbrella of “Fit for the Future”, the IOC aims to open a broad space for dialogue, where even uncomfortable conversations have a place if they help protect the long-term strength of the Games.
The Zimbabwean leader insisted that evolving does not mean losing stability, but renewing the organization so that it reflects today’s world without abandoning its essential mission. In her view, the Games must continue to inspire young people by connecting with their values and their sense of authenticity. Otherwise, the risk is not immediate, but silent: that the greatest sporting event on the planet stops engaging with those who will define its future.
“Our game is sport”: neutrality and essence in times of division
At the core of Coventry’s speech was a phrase that captured her message: “Our game is sport.” With it, she reminded the audience that the IOC is, above all, a sports organization that must protect the neutral nature of sport in an increasingly polarized global context. For the President, the Olympic Games remain one of the few spaces where athletes from all over the world can compete without political divisions determining their presence on the field of play.
This defense of essence also translates into an internal warning: the IOC cannot try to be everything to everyone. While sport plays an important role in health, inclusion, and education, the organization’s primary responsibility is to preserve the meaning and power of the Olympic Games as a source of hope and inspiration. In this context, Coventry invited IOC members to reflect on what it means today to be part of the institution and to take an active role as defenders of sport’s power as a force for good.
