IOC President Calls for a Youth Centered Olympic Movement

October 27, 2025 ， Four months into her presidency, Kirsty Coventry told the International Federation Forum that feedback on Olympic reform has been “extremely positive.” She stressed that in a changing world, only through unity and innovation can the Olympic Movement stay vibrant and relevant.

The three-day gathering brought together global sports leaders to discuss “The New Global Reality in Sport.” Coventry acknowledged the challenges ahead but said, “Because it’s not easy, it’s worth doing.” Since launching the Fit for the Future initiative, she has focused the IOC on key issues and on listening to athletes and the public.

She urged solidarity in turbulent times and reaffirmed sport as a stage for dreams and hope. Engaging youth, she said, is essential: “They expect transparency, trust, and inclusion. We must show that sport still represents belief and fairness.”

A recent IOC partnership with Sonic the Hedgehog exemplifies new ways to reach younger audiences. Coventry joked that after Paris 2024, her daughter was most excited about meeting Snoop Dogg: “It shows we must speak the language of the next generation.”

“We’ve started the dialogue,” she concluded, “and now comes the action.” SportAccord President Ugur Erdener echoed her call, noting that sport is in a transformative era — and collaboration remains its greatest strength.