Lausanne, June 23 -- Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry took over the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from Thomas Bach on Monday during a handover ceremony at the IOC headquarters here in Switzerland.
The 41-year-old former Olympic swimming champion made history by becoming the first woman and the first African to lead the 131-year-old global sports body. Her presidential term is eight years, with the possibility of seeking a four-year extension.
During her first speech as IOC President, Coventry praised the Olympic Movement as "a platform to inspire, a platform to change lives, and a platform to bring hope."
"I can't believe that in 1992 when I had the dream of going to the Olympic Games and winning a gold medal for Z...