The new IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, has officially begun her first 8-year term, but she faces numerous significant challenges.

Kirsty Coventry, the 10th president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), officially took charge of the world's largest sports organization on the 24th local time. Her primary focus is on the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and ensuring the IOC maintains its strong financial status.

Coventry has officially begun her first 8-year term, but she is met with significant challenges, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the IOC's financial situation.

Coventry's appointment creates three "firsts." The 42-year-old Coventry took over leadership from former president Thomas Bach during a handover ceremony at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne on the 23rd. She is the first African and the first female president in IOC history, as well as the youngest president. Coventry's leadership marks a new direction and challenges for the IOC, starting with promoting Olympic values at the community level while strengthening ties with national and regional Olympic committees and encouraging youth participation in the Olympic movement.

The Los Angeles Olympics is her first test. The inaugural challenge of her 8-year term is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. During her athletic career, Coventry had close ties with the United States, serving as a swimming representative for Auburn University in Alabama.

The Trump administration's policy on deporting illegal immigrants has raised human rights concerns and strained relations between several state and city leaders and the Trump administration. Coventry stated that she would meet with Trump, as this is crucial for the Los Angeles Olympics. Additionally, several major sponsors have departed in the past 12 months. Therefore, the IOC needs to discuss changing its existing marketing strategy.

Ensuring good financial health is another challenge. Coventry also needs to ensure the IOC's long-term financial stability. The IOC generates billions of dollars in revenue each year through Olympic sponsorships and broadcasting contracts, having already secured $7.3 billion in sponsorship fees for 2025 to 2028 and $6.2 billion for 2029 to 2032. More contracts are expected to follow.

With a solid financial situation, Coventry will also continue the existing business plan, expanding commercial opportunities for Olympic sponsors. The privately funded Los Angeles Olympics is seen as a positive start.

Coventry was born in 1983 in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. As an athlete, she competed in five Olympic Games, winning 2 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze medals. Her first Olympic appearance was in Sydney in 2000, where she entered four swimming events. Four years later, at the Athens Olympics, she won three medals, including gold in the 200-meter backstroke, marking Zimbabwe's first-ever Olympic gold. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Coventry won 1 gold and 3 silver medals. She later competed in the London and Rio Olympics before gradually stepping away from the sport.

In 2013, she became a member of the IOC Athletes' Commission and served as chair from 2018 to 2021. Former president Bach, who became the 9th president of the IOC in 2013, led the organization for 12 years. After stepping down, Bach was elected as an honorary president for life of the IOC.