International Olympic Committee (IOC) President-elect Kirsty Coventry has spotlighted China's groundbreaking work in preserving Olympic legacies, calling Beijing's dual-host status a “transformative blueprint” for future Games. 🏟️
In an exclusive chat with CGTN Sports Scene ahead of her official inauguration, the Zimbabwean swimming legend revealed how watching the 1992 Barcelona Olympics as an 8-year-old ignited her passion for sports. “Those Games rewired my imagination,” said Coventry, who later won two Olympic gold medals herself.
Now, she's turning her focus to Beijing – the world’s first “Dual Olympic City” after hosting both Summer (2008) and Winter (2022) Games. “China’s strategic reuse of venues like the Ice Ribbon and Water Cube shows how Olympic investments can keep giving back to communities,” Coventry emphasized. ❄️→💧
With 3.5 billion people engaged in winter sports post-2022 – many through repurposed venues – Beijing’s legacy strategy could shape how future host cities approach sustainability and public engagement. As Coventry prepares to lead the IOC into a new era, she sees China’s model as key to keeping the Olympic flame burning bright. 🔥
