Mrs kirsty coventry

International Olympic Committee: Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry has been officially welcomed as the president of the International Olympic Committee after Thomas Bach handed over the keys of the Olympic House to the former Olympic swimming champion in a handover ceremony held here on Monday.

Coventry was elected as the 10th president of the IOC and the first female president in IOC history, following voting at the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece, in March this year. "In this spirit of gratitude, confidence, and joy, I hand over the keys of Olympic House to Mrs Kirsty Coventry, the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee," Bach said.

The president was elected by the IOC Members by secret ballot for a term of eight years. Coventry succeeds the ninth IOC president, Bach, whose 12-year tenure officially ended on Monday.