IOC Elects Kirsty Coventry First Female African President

Kirsty Coventry has officially taken over as the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), becoming the first woman and the first African to hold this position. The handover ceremony in Lausanne saw outgoing President Thomas Bach pass the golden key of the Olympic House to Coventry, marking the end of his 12-year tenure. Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medalist and former swimming champion from Zimbabwe, was elected by secret ballot in March for an eight-year term. Bach expressed gratitude for the support of IOC members during his presidency and highlighted the reforms and unity achieved under his leadership. Coventry vowed to strengthen and extend the reach of the Olympic Movement, emphasizing collaboration and inspiration for the future. Bach was honored with the Olympic Order in Gold by Coventry in recognition of his significant contributions to world sport and the Olympic ideals.