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The Olympic Capital is set to make history as Kirsty Coventry officially takes office as President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Olympic Day, Monday, 23 June 2025. The handover ceremony is set for 11:00 am CET at Olympic House, in Lausanne, Switzerland, home to the IOC since 1915.
HISTORY MAKER The 1983-born Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medallist and former Zimbabwean sports minister, won gold in the 200m backstroke at both Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, and earned five additional medals in backstroke and medley events across the two Games. On Olympic Day, she will become the youngest elected IOC President in the modern era during the 10th IOC Session in Greece, and the first under the current institutional framework to take office in her early 40s, a milestone in the organisation’s 131-year history.
A NEW VISION Elected earlier this year to succeed Thomas Bach, Coventry has pledged to lead with collaboration, inclusion, and athlete-centred values. In a recent media roundtable, she emphasised her commitment to building a collaborative, inclusive and empowering IOC leadership vision for the Olympic Movement, drawing on her experience as both an elite athlete and a senior sports official.
THE HANDOVER CEREMONY Over 700 guests are expected, including IOC members, honorary members, diplomats, Olympic athletes, and representatives of global sports federations. The event will spotlight Lausanne’s enduring Olympic legacy and role in shaping international sports diplomacy.
OUT-OF-ORDINARY CELEBRATION This ceremony marks the first time in IOC history that a presidential handover will be commemorated with a standalone public ceremony. Traditionally, new presidents take office immediately following their election during an IOC Congress. This year, however, the IOC has chosen to elevate the moment with a full day of Olympic-themed festivities, engaging stakeholders from across the Movement and the city.
Nadine Alsheikh Hassan - AIPS Media Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images
