Kirsty Coventry caught off guard at press conference over Germany’s Olympic bid
Kirsty Coventry, the International Olympic Committee president, was caught off guard by journalists after being asked questions on Germany hosting the Games on the Nazi anniversary during an extraordinary press conference on Friday, reports BritPanorama.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated that hosting the 2036 Olympics would be inappropriate, given it would mark exactly a century since the Nazi Games. Coventry, who made history last year as the first woman and African to lead the IOC, appeared unprepared for the questions regarding Germany’s involvement.
During the press conference, Coventry expressed her frustration with her communications team, revealing, “Frankly, and I’m looking at my team because I was not aware that Germany had made any comments in and around 2036.” She further indicated she lacked a formed opinion on the matter, saying, “So I don’t really have an opinion on it.”
As the conference progressed, Coventry faced additional inquiries about broader issues, including a whistleblower’s claims regarding the Russian Anti-Doping Agency’s involvement in systematic doping at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Her response reflected a lack of awareness: “Ok, I’m really looking at my team and maybe someone needs to be dismissed because I’m not aware of that either. But I would be very interested to find out more about it.”
Journalists also pressed her on whether Fifa president Gianni Infantino should face investigation after he was seen at Donald Trump’s Board of Peace event. Coventry noted that the Olympic Charter expects members to uphold political neutrality, and an IOC spokesman later confirmed Infantino’s attendance did not contravene these regulations.
Coventry’s team includes communications chief Mark Adams, who reportedly earns over £420,000 annually. Critics suggested that her public rebuke of her media staff was poorly judged, arguing such matters ought to be handled privately rather than during a public briefing. Meanwhile, Adams has been linked to a potential role within UK politics, possibly joining Sir Keir Starmer’s team following the departure of Tim Allan as the Prime Minister’s director of communications.
Despite the challenging conference, Coventry has continued to maintain a visible leadership role throughout the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. At the closing ceremony, she praised the event, stating it had established “a new standard for the future,” reflecting on the innovative aspects of this year’s Games.
