The historic inauguration was held on Monday, June 23rd, in Lausanne, Switzerland, coinciding with the IOC’s 131st anniversary.
By Abioye Damilare Samson
Zimbabwean former Olympian, Kirsty Coventry, has officially taken office as the first African and first female president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The historic inauguration was held on Monday, June 23rd, in Lausanne, Switzerland, coinciding with the IOC’s 131st anniversary.
The symbolic handover ceremony took place in the garden of the Olympic House, within a specially constructed venue inspired by the Grand Palais in Paris. Coventry received a golden key to the Olympic House from outgoing president, Thomas Bach, who concluded his maximum 12-year tenure. She will now lead the global sports body for an initial eight-year term.
Coventry’s ascent to the top of the Olympic movement marks a significant milestone for African leadership in global sports administration. Before her presidency, she chaired the IOC Athletes’ Commission from 2018 and served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation from 2019. These roles reflect her deep-rooted involvement in both governance and sport.
“This is not just a huge honour, but it is a reminder of my commitment to every single one of you that I will lead this organisation with so much pride”, Coventry said after her election. “And I will make all of you very, very proud and hopefully extremely confident in the decision you’ve taken today”.
Kirsty Coventry’s leadership ushers in a new chapter for the IOC, with hopes for increased representation, more inclusive policy making, and greater visibility for African nations and women in global sports governance.