We did a podcast on PR. Called it Spin Class, which the participants didn't much like. They don't like the word spin, they prefer reputation, which sounds more grown up, and certainly more expensive.
Hear it here:
The Kirsty Coventry press conference, as we can now call it, was a big bit of the conversation. Jon Tibbs was in the room when it happened and reported back. Context is useful on these occasions. The summary would be that this was a blip at the end of what has been deemed a successful Winter Olympics.
See my previous note, written at the time, was a wearying counter to the PR Week meets Linkedin response, that this was a dereliction of duty from such a senior leader, won't anyone think of the comms department...etc etc.
A few things from the podcast that I'd like to capture here.
- That press conference was not a PR crisis, but it is interesting. I'm generally hugely in favour of people saying what they mean when standing in front of a microphone. See also Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 'Colonised by immigrants' statement to Sky. I don't agree with him but it's really important that we know that's how he thinks. My esteemed podcast guests are among the best in the industry and I like and respect each one of them. But their job is to stop this sort of thing from happening. Keep Sir Jim away from a mic. Coventry should have done the bollocking in private. I disagree.
- How will Kirsty Coventry deal with Donald Trump? This is the biggest challenge in sports leadership today. The LA28 Olympics is a politically charged moment in the American political calendar: a global platform in Gavin Newsom's home state during election year. Part of the architecture of this from a PR point of view is the dreaded Oval Room meeting cum press conference. But it's far more than PR, it's about what the IOC stands for, and whether Kirsty Coventry can not just defend it, but sell it. It will be the work of a morning for Stephen Miller to frame Olympism as a festival of liberal woke cuckdom. Gianni Infantino didn't have this challenge. FIFA doesn't stand for much, giving him license to wear the red MAGA cap and create a peace prize. FIFA's reputation isn't as valuable.
- Bach's shadow. Jon Tibbs said that Coventry was a tough cookie and 'her own person'. I'm pleased to hear that. I've a feeling that the election process did her few favours in this respect, seemingly stage managed by her predecessor to allow his own agenda to continue, led by his 'chosen candidate'.
