"A message of congratulations was sent to a woman who had been elected president of the IOC for the first time. IOC President-designate Coventry is very organised and enthusiastic, has already taken on roles in multiple areas and has proven his worth. I think she's become an accomplished person. ”

Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korea Sports Association, delivered a speech at the plenary meeting of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee held in the National Assembly on March 5.

Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korea Sports Association, spoke highly of Kasti Coventry (41 years old, Zimbabwe), who was elected as the new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the 21st.

Coventry is not only the first female IOC president, but also the first IOC president from the African continent. Yoo Seungmin was elected to the IOC Athletes' Commission at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and worked with Coventry, who is also a member of the Athletes' Commission.

In a telephone interview with South Korean media, Yoo Seung-min said: "A congratulatory message was sent to President-elect Coventry. Coventry's election as IOC president will bring a lot of changes. He added: "I have had a long friendship with Coventry as a member of the IOC Athletes' Commission between 2016 and 2021. In the future, we will work closely together on the basis of mutual trust to create positive changes and developments in the international sports community. ”

Coventry, who was elected president of the International Olympic Committee

Liu also said: "During this year's Asian Winter Games in Harbin, we chatted for 20 to 30 minutes in a meeting with President-elect Coventry. I resonate a lot with the values I pursue. ”

Coventry is the first female president in the history of the IOC, and Yoo Seung-min promoted the first female secretary-general of the Korean Sports Association since its establishment, and has placed 13 women in key positions in the cadre staffing arrangements. "The first female president in history, President-designate Coventry, will contribute a lot to the development of the Olympic Movement. ”

Liu Seungmin (second from left) and Coventry (third from right)

Yoo Seungmin added, "The Korea Sports Association will also work to achieve gender equality, strengthen athlete-centered policies, and identify and develop young sports leaders, and will continue to cooperate with the IOC in the future." ”

Regarding the impact of Coventry's appointment on South Korea's bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics in Jeollabuk-do, Yoo Seung-min said, "I think there will be a lot of changes in the way the venue is chosen. ”