INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry claimed “someone needs to be dismissed” after being blindsided by a series of difficult questions.
Coventry, 42, faced the press upon the conclusion of the Winter Games at Milano-Cortina.
Kirsty Coventry spoke to the press upon the end of the Winter OlympicsCredit: AFP
Coventry, 42, was virtually ever-present at the GamesCredit: Alamy
The former swimmer, who was elected ahead of Lord Sebastian Coe last March, was taken aback by questions to do with a Russian anti-doping chair, a potential Germany Olympics in 2036 and Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
Quizzed about the possibility of Germany hosting the Games during the centenary of the 1936 Olympics synonymous with the Nazis, Coventry said: “Frankly, and I’m looking at my team because I was not aware that Germany had made any comments in and around 2036.
“So I don’t really have an opinion on it.”
Coventry was then asked about whether “a known whistleblower” had told the World Anti-Doping Agency that the “current chair of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency was directly involved with widespread doping surrounding the Sochi Games” in 2014.
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At this point, Coventry uncomfortably referenced her team, which includes £420,000-a-year POR chief Mark Adams.
Per the Mail, Adams has been linked with a move into Sir Keir Starmer‘s staff.
Coventry said: “OK, I’m really looking at my team and maybe someone needs to be dismissed because I’m not aware of that either.
“So, but I would be very interested to find out more about it.”
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The uncomfortable press conference continued with a question about Fifa chief Infantino.
The 55-year-old, who is an IOC member, wore a red cap with “USA” and a Star-Spangled Banner emblazoned upon it as he signed a Board of Peace contract.
Asked about this “clearly political event”, Coventry bristled as she said: “Well, again, I was not aware of it. So now that you guys have made us aware of it, we’ll go back and then of course, we’ll have a look into it.
“The Olympic Charter is very clear on what it expects of its members.”
Earlier in the Games, Coventry was in tears as she spoke about why banned a Ukrainian’s “helmet of memory”.
Vladyslav Heraskevych was expelled from the skeleton competition for vowing to wear a helmet depicting images of compatriots killed since the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine four years ago.
Coventry welled up during the six-minute chat with reporters – saying: “I really wanted to see him race today. It has been an emotional morning…”
Gianni Infantino wore a red USA capCredit: EPA
