Izuchukwu OkosiHistory was made on Monday as Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry becomes officially the first woman to head the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in an emotional ceremony held in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Coventry who is also the first African on the position – male or female – replaces Thomas Bach albeit her role officially starts midnight.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelBach was an Olympics champion in fencing for Germany at the Olympic Games Montreal 1976 and has been at the helm of the IOC for 12 years following his election as the 9th President of the Olympics body in 2013.
Coventry was a double Olympics champion in swimming between 2004 and 2008 and was elected during the pills that took place this Match in Olympia, Greece.
Coventry’s term runs for eight years.
The key symbolic of handover of power, designed by Spanish artist, Andre Ricard who created the touch of of the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992 and the Olympic fire crucible at the Olympic meseum was first passed during the handover from Juan Antonio Samaranch to Jacquie’s Rogge in 2001.
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In his speech, Bach who was elected IOC Honorary President fo Life during the 144th IOC Session in March, said:
“Today is a day of gratitude. Today is a day of confidence. Today is a day of joy.
“There are so many emotions I feel in this moment – but most of all, I feel gratitude.
“Gratitude, above all, to our beloved founder Pierre de Coubertin – whose body rests just a stone’s throw from here, and whose heart lies in Ancient Olympia. To him we owe everything. I am sure he is watching us today from his Olympics heights, with that familiar smile, and that he feels content to see his – and our – Olympic Movement flourishing, true to his vision and more relevant then ever,” the 71-year-old German added.
Coventry, 42, in her speech said: You (her family – two daughters) are my rock, my inspiration. You are a constant reminder of why this movement is relevant.
Over 700 assembled guests – including IOC members, athletes, Olympic Movement representatives, delegated from international organizations, political leaders and IOC staff – witnessed the epoch event.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
