I Have Dealt With Difficult Men: Coventry

First woman IOC head pledges to be firm in talks with Trump ahead of LA 2028 Games

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COSTA NAVARINO, Greece - The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) new chief Kirsty Coventry said on March 20 that "communication will be key" with US President Donald Trump in the run-up to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Coventry, the first woman and African to be elected to the most powerful role in sports governance, added: "I have been dealing with, let's say, difficult men in high positions since I was 20 years old."

The Zimbabwean, who at 41 is also the youngest person to be elected to the position, said she was confident Mr Trump would put all his weight behind the staging of the 2028 Olympics.

The 1984 Los Angeles Games were snubbed by countries including the Soviet Union and East Germany. Some observers have speculated that the 2028 edition could be susceptible to boycotts owing to Mr Trump's unpredictable foreign policy.

Coventry, who will take over from Thomas Bach on June 23, has political experience as she is Zimbabwe's sports minister - a role that she will be stepping down from.