Kirsty Coventry talked to news people about becoming the leader of the Olympic games. She shared how she would run things if people picked her next month.
"We are very different people," she said when asked about herself and Thomas Bach, who leads the Olympics now. "I would change how the Olympic group talks to everyone. We have different ways of leading. My plan uses the Ubuntu idea, which means 'I am because we are.' I know I only did well because of my team, and that's how I want to lead."
Kirsty wants to make sure Olympic members can share what they know and be more active. She and Bach both love the Olympic Games and believe sports can help communities around the world.
Kirsty is one of seven people who want to be president. On Monday, she spoke for over an hour to 98 news people. At 41 years old, she is the youngest person running and the only woman. She has worked with the Olympics for many years, leading the group that speaks for athletes.
"When an organization changes, we need to stop and look at where we are," Kirsty explained. "We need to see what we should keep doing. The Olympic Games are our heart. Then we have our athletes, our country teams, and our sports groups. What will we keep fighting for? What should we throw away? What must we change to matter in today's world? This will be big work, and I want to start early."
Kirsty said the Olympics face pressure about money for athletes, help for sports groups, and making sure all country teams can work well together. She has dealt with similar problems as a government minister since 2018.
"I handled these past seven years well because I had a strong team willing to make hard choices when it was right," she said. "We followed our values. I believe with the strength of our members, sports groups, country teams, and listening to athletes, we can make our Olympic movement stronger by letting everyone help make decisions."
"We are very different people," she said when asked about herself and Thomas Bach, who leads the Olympics now. "I would change how the Olympic group talks to everyone. We have different ways of leading. My plan uses the Ubuntu idea, which means 'I am because we are.' I know I only did well because of my team, and that's how I want to lead."
Kirsty wants to make sure Olympic members can share what they know and be more active. She and Bach both love the Olympic Games and believe sports can help communities around the world.
Kirsty is one of seven people who want to be president. On Monday, she spoke for over an hour to 98 news people. At 41 years old, she is the youngest person running and the only woman. She has worked with the Olympics for many years, leading the group that speaks for athletes.
"When an organization changes, we need to stop and look at where we are," Kirsty explained. "We need to see what we should keep doing. The Olympic Games are our heart. Then we have our athletes, our country teams, and our sports groups. What will we keep fighting for? What should we throw away? What must we change to matter in today's world? This will be big work, and I want to start early."
Kirsty said the Olympics face pressure about money for athletes, help for sports groups, and making sure all country teams can work well together. She has dealt with similar problems as a government minister since 2018.
"I handled these past seven years well because I had a strong team willing to make hard choices when it was right," she said. "We followed our values. I believe with the strength of our members, sports groups, country teams, and listening to athletes, we can make our Olympic movement stronger by letting everyone help make decisions."
