Kirsty Coventry, the recently elected president-elect of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), received a heartfelt welcome at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Monday.
The warm reception was led by current IOC President Thomas Bach, Director General Christophe De Kepper, and IOC staff.
Coventry, a celebrated former Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe and a former government minister, was met with a standing ovation and sustained applause as she stepped into Olympic House. President Bach greeted her with a bouquet of flowers before the entire staff gathered for a commemorative group photo on the iconic staircase of the building.
In her remarks to the IOC team, Coventry expressed her deep appreciation for the reception and reflected on the journey that led her to this pivotal moment. “As a nine-year-old girl, I never imagined standing here today,” she said. “I feel deeply honoured and humbled. One of the key themes of my campaign was the Ubuntu philosophy: ‘I am because we are.’ That spirit of unity will guide everything we do moving forward.”
She emphasised her excitement about the future: “Over the next eight years, I’m looking forward to working alongside all of you to help young people across the globe dream big and achieve their goals.”
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Kirsty Coventry (standing middle in white attire) being welcomed by the IOC leadership and staff at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland on Monday 7 April 2025
Her visit comes ahead of the IOC Executive Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 9 April, and marks the beginning of a three-month transition period before she officially assumes the presidency from Thomas Bach on Olympic Day, 23 June.
Coventry made history on 20 March 2025 when she was elected the 10th IOC President and the first woman to hold the position during the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece. A double Olympic gold medallist, she has been a prominent advocate for athletes and sports development throughout her career.
Before arriving in Switzerland, Coventry attended the Continental Athletes’ Forum of Africa in Windhoek, Namibia, where she received strong support from African athlete representatives. There, she reiterated her commitment to collaborative leadership: “Everything I’ve accomplished as an athlete, a representative, or a leader has been through the power of teamwork. I will carry that same spirit into this role.”
While in Namibia, she was formally received by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Coventry acknowledged the significance of the moment, noting, “It is truly meaningful that the first Head of State I meet in my new role is a woman and a trailblazer. This sends a powerful message that both women and Africa are ready to lead on the global stage.”
President Nandi-Ndaitwah praised Coventry’s election, highlighting the broader value of sport: “For us, sport is more than just games. It plays a vital role in public well-being, youth empowerment, and economic growth.”
Coventry is expected to make several visits to Olympic House during the transition period as she prepares to take on her new role officially in June.
