IOC President Kirsty Coventry is shaking up the Olympic Movement by tapping into platforms and trends where young people gather. In a recent online press conference, Coventry highlighted the need to "decipher" youth culture—from esports arenas to TikTok challenges—to keep the Games fresh and relevant.
Speaking with CGTN Sports Scene's Zhu Mandan, Coventry noted, "We know that we have to find new, innovative ways. And I think this is also where we can leverage our AI and the AI Agenda that was launched last year. There's a lot of really good ideas in the AI Agenda on how to engage and what that looks like, and how we can do that across many different regions of the globe. Because that's also very important when it comes to universality and speaking to everybody."
Coventry even laughed about decoding messages from her niece to stay connected with Gen Z—proof that listening and learning go hand in hand with innovation. From virtual competitions to bite-sized video formats, she's aiming to bridge the gap between tradition and tomorrow's fans.
This November, she will travel to the 15th National Games in Guangdong on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region, where she plans to scout fresh ideas and meet local changemakers shaping the future of sport.
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IOC President Coventry on how Olympic Movement can engage with youth
cgtn.com