Kirsty Coventry was officially inaugurated as the new president of the International Olympic Committed on Monday in a symbolic key transferring ceremony at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Coventry, 41, the first woman to be elected to the position, begins an eight year term and outgoing president Thomas Bach was on hand to mark the occasion — and transition of duties.
Her election as the tenth president of the IOC, came in March after Coventry pulled off a stunning win that was expected to last for five rounds of voting. But after Coventry won 49 of 97 eligible votes in the initial secret ballot, she gained enough support to claim the victory.
Among the seven candidates, Sebastian Coe was heavily favored to be a factor but only received eight votes as the tally was finalized in Greece at the 144th IOC Session.
But with the election well into to the foreground, Coventry now steps into a role that Bach steered for the maximum 12 years.
Still, the handover ceremony reflected on the highlights of a sometimes uneven tenure by Bach but reflected that a transition of power would be seamless.
“As the first female and first African to hold this position – and indeed the youngest IOC President since Pierre de Coubertin – she reflects the truly global nature and the youthful, forward-looking spirit of our Olympic community,” Bach said in his address at the event. “She brings her own unique style and her own dynamic perspective. She has a new voice that resonates with the young generation.”
Coventry’s term will last eight years and in her first formal speech she reflected on her path as an Olympian but also the responsibility that now comes with leading the largest sporting organization.
“It’s amazing. It’s incredible,” she said. “And I can’t believe that, in 1992, when I had the dream of going to the Olympic Games and winning a gold medal for Zimbabwe, that I’d be standing here with all of you getting to make those dreams come true for more young people around the world.”
Later, in her first official day as president, Coventry met with around 100 IOC members in a closed-door session that included major stakeholders, athletes and leaders across several sports.
She will immediately encounter a sports — and global — landscape that will undoubtedly leave a mark on whatever her presidency will become.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy are quickly approaching as preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Games continue to take shape. But Coventry will have to navigate how Russia can — if it is even a possibility — be a participant in any Olympic discussion as the invasion of Ukraine continues. And like Coe, she will be pressed on affirming at stance on guidelines for the female sport category.
And while Monday’s ceremony largely focused on Bach’s exit and legacy, Coventry was wide-ranging but still targeted in being clear that she was forging her own path in the highest seat at the IOC.
“As the Olympic Movement, as Federations, as NOCs, as our sponsors and our partners, we are the guardians of this incredible platform,” she said. “And it’s not just about a multi-sport event. It’s a platform to inspire. It’s a platform to change lives. And it’s a platform to bring hope. These are not things taken lightly, and I’m looking forward to working with each and every one of you to make sure that we continue to inspire, continue to change lives, and in our divided world today, continue to be a beacon of hope.”
