Kirsty Coventry receives Golden Key as a new IOC president

Lausanne, Switzerland -New International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry promised on Monday to strengthen and expand the reach of the matches, while the Olympic swimming champion of Zimbabwe took over from Thomas Bach during a ceremony in Lausanne.

Coventry, who officially starts her eight -year -old spell on Tuesday as the most powerful sports manager in the world, became the first woman and the first African to be chosen in March to head of the Olympic ruling body.

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Every year the IOC generates several billion dollars in income in sponsorship and broadcasts for the Olympic summer and winter games.

Coventry only needed one voting round to get the race to succeed Bach and beat six other candidates. On Monday she received the Golden Key at the IOC by Bach, who was in charge for 12 years.

“I am really honored that I can walk this trip with you. I can’t wait for something that lies in front of us,” Coventry told IOC members and other Olympic stakeholders in her address.

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“I know I have the best team to support me and our movement for the next eight years.”

Los Angeles organizes the Olympic Summer Games 2028 and the Italian Milano-Cortina plays next year’s Winter Games.

Coventry will hold a two-day workshop this week to get feedback from members about important IOC problems.

“Working together and finding consistent ways to strengthen and keep our movement that ensure that we wake up every day … to keep inspiring,” she said.

Coventry, a seven-fold Olympic medal winner, won 200m backstroke gold during the 2004 Athens matches and four years later in Beijing.

“With her election you also sent a powerful message to the world: the IOC continues to evolve,” said Bach in his speech. “With Kirsty Coventry, the Olympic movement will be in the best hands.”