IOC's first female president Kirsty Coventry seeks meeting with Donald Trump over LA 2028 Olympics issues

The newly-elected President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry, has expressed her desire to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to ensure the success of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Coventry, who made history by becoming the first female and first African IOC president on Thursday, emphasised the importance of a strong partnership with the U.S. government for a smooth and inclusive LA Olympics.

Speaking to Reuters after her election victory, Kirsty Coventry highlighted Trump’s history of supporting major sporting events. “President Trump is a huge supporter of sport. There’s never been a sitting president that has attended the Super Bowl. He was the president at the time when LA was awarded the Games (in 2017). I truly believe that he wants the LA 28 Games to be a huge success,” she noted.

Coventry calls for dialogue with Trump ahead of LA Olympics

Coventry’s call for dialogue comes amid growing concerns from IOC members regarding Trump’s strict immigration policies. Trump has enacted executive orders tightening border entry requirements, increasing visa scrutiny, and cracking down on undocumented immigrants after taking over from Joe Biden on 20 January.

“It will take sitting down and having a good conversation with him. Sharing with him our values and where we want to be, how we want LA to be successful, and being very clear on the different priorities (within the IOC),” she said.

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One of the key issues likely to be discussed is Trump’s stance on transgender athletes. His administration has implemented policies barring transgender athletes from competing in school sports, and he has stated that he would not allow them to participate in the LA Olympics. This stance contradicts the IOC’s current policies, which allow transgender athletes to compete.

Trump has also directed the State Department to pressure the IOC into revising its policy on transgender inclusion. Coventry acknowledged the complexity of the issue and stressed the need for cooperation. “What we need to do… is bring the international federations together and the IOC, and try to take a joint decision on how we will protect the female category,” she said.

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As the countdown to the 2028 Olympics continues, Coventry’s proposed meeting with Trump could be pivotal in addressing several issues that could impact the event.