In a powerful declaration, Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee, is championing the fundamental right of athletes to compete.
Coventry emphasized the importance of inclusion, stating, “All eligible athletes, teams, and officials must participate without facing discrimination or political hindrance,” during her keynote address at the European Evening of Sport in Brussels. She further urged global governments to ensure unrestricted access and uphold the universality and independence of sport.
Her comments were partly directed at Indonesia, which recently denied visas to Israeli athletes for the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships hosted in Jakarta. The statement also seemed aimed at the United States, where former President Donald Trump had suggested barring certain athletes from the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and proposed sex testing for female competitors in women’s events.
Delivering this message in Brussels, a hub of the European Union, was likely strategic. As IOC President, Coventry has embraced her role as a diplomatic advocate, promoting peace through sportsmanship. In Brussels, she met with Belgium’s King Philippe and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Although she does not officially represent their views, their presence suggests European governmental backing of her stance.
The IOC highlighted in a press release that Coventry’s speech was met with enthusiastic applause from an audience that included Olympic Movement representatives and top EU decision-makers.
Indonesia’s refusal to admit Israeli athletes has jeopardized its bid to host the 2036 Olympics. Initially one of the five contenders, Indonesia saw its ambitions dashed after the IOC Executive Board suspended “any form of dialogue” regarding its candidacy, following the incident in Jakarta. Indonesia’s stance against Israeli athletes dates back to the 1960s.
Indonesia’s decision not to allow Israeli athletes at the World Championships has likely cost the nation its chance to host the 2036 Olympics. Indonesia was initially among the five nations shortlisted to host the Games, but the IOC Executive Board cut off “any form of dialogue” about its bid following the Jakarta incident. The nation has a long history of refusing entry to Israeli athletes going back to the 1960s.
In her speech, Coventry set herself forward as an example of an athlete whose life was changed by being able to compete at the Olympics, which she did five times between 2000 and 2016.
“If you had decided to sanction me when my country was going through turmoil, I would not have made it to the Olympic Games. I would not have won my Olympic medals. My path would have been completely different than it is today. Sport changed my life. And I am so grateful for that, and I will fight every day to ensure athletes from every corner of our world have the same possibilities,” she said.
“In sport everyone is equal. Democracy in sport means exactly that: every voice and every vote carry the same weight.”
