BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry announced on Friday the creation of four new working groups as part of the "Fit For The Future" initiative, focusing on the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), Olympic program, protection of the female category, and commercial partnerships and marketing.

The groups, formed following consultations with IOC members throughout the summer, will begin work immediately to address key challenges facing the Olympic Movement.

"The groups announced today are the start of that process. They will allow us to meet deadlines, and bring important technical expertise to these complex and important discussions, while realigning where we feel that it is necessary to strengthen our Movement," said Coventry.

The YOG working group, chaired by IOC member Danka Hrbekova, will evaluate the potential and relevance of the YOG and oversee the host selection process for the 2030 edition.

The Olympic Program working group, under the leadership of IOC member Karl Stoss, will examine the relevance of sports and disciplines, Games size management, and potential crossover between traditional summer and winter sports, the timing of the Games, and the sports calendar. The group includes notable members such as Sebastian Coe, Tony Estanguet, and Allyson Felix.

The Protection of the Female Category working group, composed of experts and international federation representatives, will develop frameworks to safeguard female athletic categories. The IOC has maintained confidentiality regarding its membership to protect the integrity of their work.

The Commercial Partnerships and Marketing working group, chaired by IOC member Luis Alberto Moreno, will evaluate the IOC's existing commercial programs, platforms and systems, and explore new revenue generation opportunities through Olympic Broadcasting Services and Olympic Channel Services. The group includes marketing specialists and business leaders such as Juan Antonio Samaranch and Yael Arad.

The initiative represents the first structural change implemented under Coventry's leadership since her election in March 2025 as she became the first woman and the first African to lead the IOC in its 131-year history.

Coventry, a former Olympic swimming champion from Zimbabwe, officially took office as the IOC president on June 23, 2025, succeeding Thomas Bach during a ceremony held at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. ■