Kirsty Coventry, Zimbabwe's retired swimming icon and current Sports Minister, is the sole African contender for the International Olympic Committee presidency, inspiring hopes for fairness in sports and empowerment for women.
A champion at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the 41-year-old now serves as her country's Sports Minister. Ahead of the IOC vote, Coventry has shared her vision and agenda for the Olympic body.
Coventry has drawn heightened attention due to the unprecedented nature of her potential presidency. However, she expressed confidence in her ability to tackle the challenge, push boundaries, and make tough decisions.
She recently shared insights on her vision for the Olympic movement, including the issue of prize money at the Summer and Winter Games.
Coventry emphasized the importance of better supporting athletes early in their careers, particularly through direct funding, to help them overcome challenges like sponsorship struggles and financial pressure. She believes this focus would ease the path to the Olympics, as the Olympic solidarity scholarship was crucial in her own journey.
Some feel this would help to level the playing field, especially for African nations.
"I have looked at how the Olympics are run, and as much as it's called an amateur sport, there are some countries that are able to throw a lot of money to support their athletes, the lesser nations need a voice. They need a voice to be able to compete. Kirsty did that in the pool herself and Kirsty, if she does get the position, has that ability from a sort of seniority perspective to say 'you know what, if we are calling this a sport for everyone then when does the fairness comes in?'" said Dirk Viljoen, former Zimbabwe national cricketer.
Her candidacy carries profound significance for women.
"Never mind the fact that it's huge that she will be the first African, she will be the youngest. But the fact that she is a woman who is achieving that, it speaks a lot to young girls. It speaks a lot to those that are aspiring for even roles that are not in sport," said Yvonne Mangunda, sports manager and media personality.
The elections for the new head of the Olympics body will be held at the 144th IOC Session between March 18 and 21.
Zimbabwe's iconic swimmer Coventry targets groundbreaking Olympic role
China's Qingming Festival holiday has turned flower viewing into a showcase of cultural heritage, drawing tourists and boosting local economies.
From references to "The Book of Songs", a treasured Confucian classic and China's oldest poetry collection, to longstanding flower festivals, organizers are promoting flower viewing as cultural tourism, weaving poetry and tradition into spring outings.
Hebi City in central China's Henan Province is drawing crowds with magnolias, tulips and crabapples, alongside 87 cherry blossom varieties. The blooms have become a major Qingming Festival attraction, prompting local authorities to pair tourism with cultural heritage.
As one of the birthplaces of The Book of Songs, Hebi has launched a campaign offering free entry to scenic spots for visitors who recite verses from the ancient classic. The initiative links flower viewing with a text long regarded as a cornerstone of Chinese literature.
In Binzhou, east China's Shandong Province, a park spanning 240 hectares, roughly the size of 330 football fields, is covered in blossoms, making it one of the largest spring displays in the region. The park uses smart drip irrigation to keep flowers hydrated and extend their peak season.
Originating in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), the Huazhao (Flower Deities) Festival in Xinzhou District of Wuhan boasts more than 800 years of history. Listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2011, it remains the largest folk celebration in eastern Hubei, drawing thousands of visitors each spring. A parade featuring 12 flower deities winds through the streets, anchoring the festival as both a cultural showcase and a tourism draw.
"The plum blossom represents noble character, the peach blossom radiant beauty. We hope more people will come to discover the Huazhao Festival," said Qinghuan, a performer portraying the Osmanthus Deity.
Outside the Shanxi Museum in Taiyuan City, apricot trees are in full bloom. Their pale pink petals flutter in the breeze, lining the museum's corridors and echoing the deep history within. Visitors pause to photograph the unique blend of ancient architecture and fleeting spring beauty.
During the Qingming Festival holiday, the Beijing Garden of World's Flowers turned into a "spring palette." A nearly 2,000-square-meter sea of flowers burst into color. Against this floral backdrop, traditional experiences such as archery, tea whisking and movable-type printing drew crowds seeking a holiday filled with blossoms and cultural charm.
The garden features over 40 varieties of alpine and deciduous rhododendrons in shades of purple, pink and white, layered like clouds of silk. Along the flower-lined paths, colorful benches and ribbons create picture-perfect spots. Visitors wander, stop to admire, or raise their phones to capture a moment of spring romance.
"We hope these vibrant, contrasting floral colors bring a little healing and joy to people's lives, a space to relax and find peace amid the spring bloom," said Shi Wenfang, director of the Beijing Garden of World's Flowers. Beyond flower viewing, the garden is hosting its annual Huazhao Festival during the holiday. Now in its fifth year, the event has attracted nearly 300,000 visitors in total. The festivities run through April 6.
Falling on April 5 this year, the Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tributes to ancestors. The three-day holiday from Saturday to Monday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens to enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing in pleasant springtime temperatures.
Compiled between the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period (1100 B.C. - 476 B.C.), "The Book of Songs" contains at least 305 poems and is recognized as a Confucian classic.
Flower viewing draws holiday crowds across China during Qingming Festival
