IOC President Kirsty Coventry was warmly welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during her visit to Guangzhou for the spectacular Opening Ceremony of China’s National Games.
President Coventry praised the event as “an amazing blend of culture, art, technology and sport,” highlighting China’s commitment to engaging 25,000 athletes of all ages and fostering national unity through sport.
Ahead of the ceremony, President Xi and President Coventry discussed strengthening the long-standing partnership between China and the IOC, building on the legacies of Beijing 2008 and Beijing 2022. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Olympic spirit and to keeping sport free from political interference.
While in Guangzhou, President Coventry joined by IOC Honorary President Thomas Bach and IOC Members Zaiqing Yu, Lingwei Li, and Hong Zhang — also attended the wushu competition, which will debut at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The IOC delegation met with China Media Group (CMG) President Shen Haixiong to celebrate the signing of the finalised media rights agreement for the Olympic Games 2026–2032, further reinforcing the partnership between CMG and the IOC.
President Coventry also met with Xinhua News Agency leadership to acknowledge its enduring collaboration with the Olympic Movement. Her visit continues with meetings with Worldwide Olympic Partners from China: TCL, Mengniu, and Alibaba to deepen cooperation in technology and sport development.
