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New IOC President Kirsty Coventry stated she does not believe in paying athletes, sparking criticism from Olympians amid the organization's billions in revenue.
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry has stated she does not believe in paying athletes directly for their participation in the Olympic Games [2, 3]. The comments, made during a visit to New Zealand, have drawn sharp criticism from prominent Olympians who argue the stance is exploitative given the organization's substantial revenue [2].
Key takeaways
Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe and the first woman and African to lead the IOC, argued that funds should support scholarships and infrastructure rather than direct paychecks [2, 3]. She stated that athletes benefit from "beautiful venues, beautiful villages and a beautiful experience" funded by the money the organization raises [2]. Her perspective aligns with the traditional "Olympic solidarity model," which relies on national organizations, sponsorships, and taxpayer funding rather than direct compensation from the IOC [2, 3].
The remarks have sparked a backlash from athletes who highlight the disparity between executive compensation and athlete earnings. Greg Rutherford, Britain's 2012 Olympic
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AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 3 outlets · Jun 1, 2026 · How we report