(24 Mar 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++QUALITY AS INCOMING++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Harare, Zimbabwe – 23 March 2025
1. Wide of International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry disembarking from a car
2. Coventry greeting and hugging members of the Zimbabwean delegation that met her at the airport
3. Brass band and dancer welcoming Coventry back from Greece after her election as International Olympic Committee President
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Kirsty Coventry, International Olympic Committee President: ++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON SHOT2 AND IS OVERLAID BY SHOT 3++
“During the campaign, I focused a lot on being the best person. Not gender, not about continent, but now I’m really very proud that we can say we are the first Zimbabwean and the first African and the first woman.”
5. Coventry seated next to Monica Mutsvangwa, Women Affairs Minister and Deputy Minister of Sports, during a press briefing
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Kirsty Coventry, International Olympic Committee President: ++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON PREVIOUS SHOT AND IS OVERLAID BY SHOT 7-8 AND PARTIALLY BY SHOT9++
“We broke down so many barriers in that vote, and I want to thank all my IOC colleagues for giving me that faith and giving me that confidence and giving me their trust. This is going to be an exciting tenure. Lots of different challenges, but lots of opportunities, as I did in 2004 after my swimming and winning gold coming back home. I’m really excited to share with everybody over the next few days.”
7. Supporters holding up a banner welcoming Coventry home
8. Coventry greeting supporters at airport terminal
9. Supporter shouting in celebration as Coventry leaves airport
STORYLINE:
Newly elected International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry arrived Sunday in her home country of Zimbabwe to a hero’s welcome.
The southern African country has faced years of isolation and sanctions by the United States and other Western nations.
The 41-year-old Coventry, who is also Zimbabwe’s sports minister, was the only female candidate in the IOC presidency race and became the first woman and first African to be elected head of the global Olympic movement.
She beat six other candidates in the vote in Greece on Thursday, including the head of world track and field, the head of international cycling and a member of Jordan’s royal family.
“It’s not just my success, it is our success. We broke down barriers,” Coventry said in Zimbabwe.
Dancers in animal fur kilts and head gear stomped the ground as part of a traditional African folklore dance to the sound of trumpets and drums to welcome Coventry home in Harare.
Dozens of others, including female cricketers, young karatekas and children in school uniform cheered loudly.
“This is not just a personal victory, it will put Zimbabwe on the global stage,” said Women Affairs Minister Monica Mutsvangwa at a welcoming ceremony.
Coventry is an ex-Zimbabwe swimmer and was the back-to-back Olympic champion in the 200 meters backstroke at the 2004 and 2006 Games.
She retired from swimming after the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 with seven Olympic medals and is the most decorated Olympian from Africa.
Coventry was widely praised in her country as a source of pride and a unifying figure during her swimming career.
Her decision to take the job of sports minister in 2018 has been scrutinized, though, given the Zimbabwean government has long been questioned over its human rights record and is regularly accused of clamping down on political opposition.
Many of those critics have welcomed her election and posted congratulatory messages.
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