Alex Ritson

It's absolutely an historic day, one that not so long ago people thought wouldn't happen for decades. They felt that the safest voice would be another man. That hasn't happened. They've gone with Kirsty Coventry in the build-up. She didn't want the fact that she was a female to be the reason why she was chosen. She wanted to be picked because she's the right person for the job.

It's absolutely an historic day, one that not so long ago people thought wouldn't happen for decades. They felt that the safest voice would be another man. That hasn't happened. They've gone with Kirsty Coventry in the build-up. She didn't want the fact that she was a female to be the reason why she was chosen. She wanted to be picked because she's the right person for the job.

But she did say she would bring a different set of skills to the role, some softer skills, and that would help the movement. And in fact, all the other... Contenders, just before I spoke to you, they were saying that it's good that a former athlete is in charge of the movement. I think what was surprising is that she won in the first round.

But she did say she would bring a different set of skills to the role, some softer skills, and that would help the movement. And in fact, all the other... Contenders, just before I spoke to you, they were saying that it's good that a former athlete is in charge of the movement. I think what was surprising is that she won in the first round.

This was a race that was said to be very, very close, very fine margins. Nobody thought with seven candidates that one of them would get 50 plus 1% in the first round of voting. And that Kirsty Coventry did that. And so, yeah, it was not a massive surprise she has won, but a surprise she did it so quickly.

This was a race that was said to be very, very close, very fine margins. Nobody thought with seven candidates that one of them would get 50 plus 1% in the first round of voting. And that Kirsty Coventry did that. And so, yeah, it was not a massive surprise she has won, but a surprise she did it so quickly.

Well, I think initially she probably has to convince the world that she's the right person. She's very young, only 41 years old, much younger than any other previous player.

Well, I think initially she probably has to convince the world that she's the right person. She's very young, only 41 years old, much younger than any other previous player.

IOC president by far the youngest of the of the candidates she is the current sports minister of Zimbabwe and she has been asked about that and she says she's there because it is better to make change from within as for the IOC role this will be something that she has never experienced before in terms of a global and prestigious role like this it's one with huge challenges ahead

IOC president by far the youngest of the of the candidates she is the current sports minister of Zimbabwe and she has been asked about that and she says she's there because it is better to make change from within as for the IOC role this will be something that she has never experienced before in terms of a global and prestigious role like this it's one with huge challenges ahead

She's certainly got enough support from within the IOC. It was said that Thomas Back, the outgoing president, was lobbying on her behalf. I mean, no one has actually confirmed that, and they won't. It isn't allowed. Well, there's lots of them, and they're mainly on the horizon because the IOC is in a financially stable position.

She's certainly got enough support from within the IOC. It was said that Thomas Back, the outgoing president, was lobbying on her behalf. I mean, no one has actually confirmed that, and they won't. It isn't allowed. Well, there's lots of them, and they're mainly on the horizon because the IOC is in a financially stable position.

It had a successful Games in Paris, but coming up, there are some dark clouds. The LA Games dealing with Donald Trump, who said that he's going to not allow... transgender athletes who want to compete in the female category from entering the USA. Athletes from other countries may struggle to get visas as well. So that's something she's got to look at closely.

It had a successful Games in Paris, but coming up, there are some dark clouds. The LA Games dealing with Donald Trump, who said that he's going to not allow... transgender athletes who want to compete in the female category from entering the USA. Athletes from other countries may struggle to get visas as well. So that's something she's got to look at closely.

And then there's Russia's reintegration. If peace is made between Russia and Ukraine, that won't be welcomed by all sports and all national federations. And then climate change. A lot of athletes, hundreds of athletes, in fact, have written to the IRC demanding that the new president... puts climate change and sustainability right at the top of their list of priorities.

And then there's Russia's reintegration. If peace is made between Russia and Ukraine, that won't be welcomed by all sports and all national federations. And then climate change. A lot of athletes, hundreds of athletes, in fact, have written to the IRC demanding that the new president... puts climate change and sustainability right at the top of their list of priorities.

Major Alex Humphreys, I'm one of the squadron leaders here with the Royal Jigging Guards Battle Group and Estonia.

Major Alex Humphreys, I'm one of the squadron leaders here with the Royal Jigging Guards Battle Group and Estonia.

I think NATO writ large feels exposed, feels the quite prominent and clear threat that is coming from the Russian Federation. We don't want this to come to war, but if it does come to war, we're fully integrated, fully prepared to deliver lethal effect to protect Estonia.

I think NATO writ large feels exposed, feels the quite prominent and clear threat that is coming from the Russian Federation. We don't want this to come to war, but if it does come to war, we're fully integrated, fully prepared to deliver lethal effect to protect Estonia.