IOC president Kirsty Coventry opposes paying Olympic athletes

International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry has stated her opposition to paying Olympic athletes directly. The IOC chief believes the current model of supporting athletes through other means is preferable to direct compensation.

International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry has made her position clear on one of sport's most debated questions: Olympic athletes should not be paid for competing at the Games.

«I don't believe in paying athletes,» Coventry stated, signalling that the IOC under her leadership is unlikely to pursue a model of direct athlete compensation at the Olympic Games.

The stance comes amid growing debate in the global sports community about whether elite Olympic athletes — many of whom dedicate years of their lives to reaching the Games — should receive financial rewards for their participation or performance.

Coventry, who was elected as IOC president in 2025, making history as the first woman and first African to hold the role, has previously emphasised the importance of the Olympic movement's values and the distinction between professional sports leagues and the Olympic model.

The debate over athlete pay remains a sensitive topic, with many competitors relying on national federation support, sponsorships, and prize money from individual sports rather than any direct Olympic stipend.