section_path: Presidency of the International Olympic Committee
section_name: Presidency of the International Olympic Committee
paragraph_text: Presidency of the International Olympic Committee
  
  On 20 March 2025 at the 144th IOC Session, Coventry became the first woman and the first African to be elected as president of the IOC. Coventry will officially become president on 24 June, after incumbent Thomas Bach steps down. She won the election on the first ballot, with 49 votes.
  
  In 2012, Coventry was elected to the International Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission and has served as an IOC member since 2013. In 2023, she became an elected member of the IOC Executive Board. In September 2024, she was announced as one of seven candidates in the running to succeed Thomas Bach as IOC president.
  
  Coventry's vision is to restore the Olympics as a beacon of inclusivity and unity, ensuring that the Games are truly for everyone, regardless of their background or birthplace. Coventry's commitment to leveraging sports as a universal connector marks a pivotal moment in the organization's history. Coventry claims to plan to empower athletes and promote social equity to focus on feminism and gender equality. Despite this, she opposes transgender people in sports and has supported a blanket ban on transgender participation in the Olympics. During her campaign for the IOC presidency, Coventry stated that she supported banning transgender women from competition in women's events. She said that "ensuring fairness in women's sport and maintaining the integrity of women's categories is essential."
  
  Two weeks after her presidential election, Coventry was warmly welcomed the IOC members received on 7 April 2025 at the Olympic House in Lausanne, outgoing IOC president Bach, who handed her a bouquet of flowers, and Director General Christophe De Kepper took care of welcoming her, just before posing for a group photo with all those present.