Nadine Alsheikh Hassan – AIPS Media<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lausanne, June 23, 2025 \u2013 The Olympic Day 2025 marked a historic milestone at the Olympic House in Lausanne, as Thomas Bach handed over the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe. The ceremony was filled with emotion, gratitude and optimism, marking twelve years of leadership and promising a vibrant future for IOC in her 8-year tenure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The event began with a welcome speech from Christophe de Kepper, IOC Director General, who acknowledged distinguished guests attending, including members of the Swiss Federal Council, international federation leaders, IOC members, Honourary members and Olympians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BACH’S LEGACY A poignant video highlighted the remarkable twelve-year tenure of Thomas Bach, underlining his achievements in promoting unity through sport. From creating the Refugee Olympic Team to introducing “together” into the Olympic motto, Bach’s transformative leadership will be vividly remembered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In an emotional address, Bach reflected on his term with profound gratitude, notably towards IOC members and the broader Olympic movement community. “Today is a day of gratitude, confidence, and joy,” Bach stated. He emphasised unity as the cornerstone of his leadership, which enabled the IOC to navigate unprecedented global challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LIFETIME HONOURARY PRESIDENT Bach expressed deep appreciation for his election as Honorary President for life, describing it as a meaningful recognition of the collective achievements made during his tenure. Concluding his address, he warmly endorsed Coventry, noting, “I am at peace because the Olympic movement is in good hands and ready for the future.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n A documentary-style video highlighting Coventry’s early years as a swimmer, featuring heartwarming interviews and rare footage from her childhood, was displayed during the ceremony. Watch it here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n COVENTRY TAKES THE HELM Kirsty Coventry, 7-time Olympic champion, former Zimbabwe minister and now the IOC\u2019s first female and African president, took to the podium expressing heartfelt admiration for Bach\u2019s unwavering dedication. \u201cYou have kept us united through turbulent times,” she remarked. She pledged to build upon the strong foundations laid by Bach, emphasising unity and inclusivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A DAUGHTER’S METAPHOR Coventry shared a personal anecdote highlighting the resilience and unity required within the Olympic movement, likening it to a delicate yet strong spiderweb, a metaphor from her 6-year-old daughter Elly, who was pointing at a spider web, explaining how resilient it is against all conditions, unless it has a hole which breaks its strength. “Our movement is complex, beautiful, and strong. But it only works if we work together and remain united,” she affirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BURGERS AND CAKES! With her parents watching tearfully from the audience, Kirsty Coventry paid a sincere tribute to the sacrifices they made which fuelled her journey:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “To my mom and dad, who are here today, who would have imagined that countless cake sales and thousands of burgers sold could lead to this incredible moment? Your tireless sacrifices and unwavering support allowed me and my teammates to attend training, competition and chase our dreams, and for that, I am eternally grateful to both of you. I love you guys.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n She went on to highlight the powerful role of family and mentorship in shaping her path. She extended thanks to her husband and children for their constant support, reinforcing a vision that is as personal as it is powerful: “To continue transforming lives and inspiring hope through sport.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n A NEW IOC ERA In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, Coventry awarded Bach the Olympic Order in Gold, her first act as IOC President. This symbolic gesture underscored the profound respect and gratitude of the Olympic community toward Bach’s impactful tenure. The Olympic movement embarks on a new era with Kirsty at the helm, powered by youthful energy, diversity, and an unyielding commitment to the Olympic ideals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coventry concluded, “I cannot wait for everything that lies ahead, knowing we have the best team to support our movement in these next eight years.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n IMAGINE For the finale, a moving piece of John Lennon’s 1971 classic song “Imagine” set the vibe for ceremony closure, performed by talented pianist Ricky Kam (Switzerland), violinist Manon Galy (France), IOC staff member Maureen Rosita (Cameroon), and Dakar-born Abdoulaye N’diaye (Senegal). Long embraced as an unofficial anthem of the Olympic Movement, the song resonated with its timeless message of peace, unity and hope in a rather troubled world at the moment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" IOC President Kirsty Coventry is handed the Olympic key from outgoing president Thomas Bach during…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":24581,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,5,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-boxing","category-home","category-live-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ultimatesportsghana.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/510743163_1774557656491243_5828131489464346721_n-1024x683.jpg\")
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