Dawn of female leadership in Olympics

The Olympic Games are a magical spectacle of five interlocked rings—an enchanting four-letter word that draws humanity like a magnet. The Olympics are a celebration of life itself, one of the greatest legacies of Greek civilization. They represent the harmony of tradition and modernity. From its inception, the modern Olympic movement declared that it would embrace beauty without discrimination—rejecting inequality, gender bias, and racial division. The philosophy of the Olympics champions human dignity and the triumph of humanity.

While sport is the heart of the Games, the Olympics also stand for education, ideals, and ethics. On one side lies the grandeur of values, on the other, the poetry of motion and the heroism of strength. At its core, the Olympics serve the progress and welfare of humanity. It is a global phenomenon—arguably the most influential socio-cultural movement in the modern world.

The magnetic goal of the Olympic movement is to unite men and women from across the globe around a common mission: to build an inclusive, discrimination-free world. The Games generate immense emotional energy and passion. Pierre de Coubertin, the humanitarian and educational visionary who founded the modern Olympic Games, was the first to recognize that this power of sport could be harnessed to change society. He emphasized the need for both men and women to participate. Without women's active involvement, true social transformation is impossible.

To this end, Coubertin offered a "road map." In his historic speech to the Congress on June 23, he proclaimed that the spirit of the ancient Greek Olympic movement had been revived with the help of modern technology:
"Thanks to your efforts, this international sport shall empower the movement for world peace."
He later added, "Though the ruins of ancient Olympia once buried the Olympic ideals, they have now reemerged as a beacon of hope through the efforts of German archaeologists."

From 1894 to 2025—131 years—the Olympic movement has seen both glorious successes and serious controversies: inequality, discrimination, ethical lapses, and a fading of ideals. Yet the movement’s stewards have continuously adapted its structure to meet the needs of the times. Many traditions have been revised to make the Olympics more dynamic and appealing. But its philosophy has never been abandoned. The doors have been gradually opened wider.

Issues of human rights, equality, and gender parity cannot be overlooked. One must ask: how much progress has been made in ensuring women’s rights in Olympic governance and technical sectors? Do all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) truly provide fair participation opportunities to women organizers? Has the slogan "United by and for Sport" been meaningfully implemented around the world? The Olympic movement claims to promote unity and solidarity—but can that goal be achieved if women are excluded from sports leadership?

True Olympic progress lies in the united efforts of men and women. It took over a century to ensure equal participation for women in all sports disciplines. Olympism isn’t just a sports competition—it’s a lifestyle and a philosophy of life. And in that, women’s roles are crucial.

The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, but women were not allowed to participate—even to enter the venue—based on ancient traditions. It wasn’t until the 1900 Paris Olympics that women were officially allowed to compete, and only in three events: tennis, golf, and archery. In women’s tennis singles, Charlotte Cooper of Great Britain defeated French player B.H. Prévost to become the first female Olympic gold medalist in modern history.

It would take another 28 years before women could participate in athletics and gymnastics at the 1928 Amsterdam Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board was formed in 1921, but how many more years did it take before a woman became its Vice President? It was only recently that Anita DeFrantz of the USA was elected Vice President via secret ballot.

Now, for the first time in 131 years, an African woman—Olympic gold medalist Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe—has been elected IOC President in a secret ballot during the 144th IOC session on March 20. Receiving 49 out of 97 votes in the first round, she made history as the first woman to be elected by both male and female members of the IOC. This marks a powerful shift, not only breaking the long-standing European dominance but also signaling a new chapter for the Olympic movement.

On June 23, Olympic Day, Coventry will formally assume her role from outgoing President Thomas Bach of Germany. Her election is a landmark moment for equality and justice in the Olympics—a victory for women's rights. Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Coventry won one gold among three medals at the 2004 Athens Games, and another gold among four medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After retiring post-2016 Rio Olympics, she entered politics and has been serving as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth and Sports since 2018.

Her rise to the presidency has ignited hope and inspiration among women globally. It’s a remarkable victory in the international sporting arena—a powerful message that women are no longer willing to be sidelined in the world of sports. Her win, against heavyweight contenders, underscores that she has always stood against inequality and fought for fairness in sports.

As mentioned earlier, this is also the first time Europe’s dominance in the IOC has been challenged. It’s astounding that it took 131 years to realize that the Olympic movement doesn’t belong exclusively to Europeans. Here's a timeline of past IOC Presidents:

Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1896–1925)

Henri de Baillet-Latour (1925–1942)

Johannes Sigfrid Edström (Acting President 1942–1946; President 1946–1952)

Avery Brundage (1952–1972)

Michael Morris Killanin (1972–1980)

Juan Antonio Samaranch (1980–2001)

Jacques Rogge (2001–2013)

Thomas Bach (2013–2025, until June 23)

Kirsty Coventry (elected, to assume office on June 23, 2025)

Ikramuzzaman: Columnist and analyst; former Senior Vice President, AIPS Asia; lifetime member, Bangladesh Sports Press Association; panel writer, Football Asia.