- Title: Zimbabweans commend sports minister Coventry's election as IOC president
- Date: 20th March 2025
- Summary: BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE (MARCH 20, 2025) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BULAWAYO CITY STREET SHOTS / PEOPLE AND CARS ON THE ROAD (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOCAL RESIDENT, NIGEL AKIMU, SAYING: "I have been following Kirsty Coventry through South African media. To me it's a big congratulations, it's a big win for Africa, particularly for Zimbabwe. And I think it will play a pivotal role to a g
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Africa IOC Kirsty Coventry Olympics Sports Zimbabwe
- Location: BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE
- City: BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE
- Country: Zimbabwe
- Topics: Africa,Olympics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001046720032025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Zimbabweans offered congratulatory messages to their Sports Minister, Kirsty Coventry on Thursday (March 20) following her historic election as IOC president.
Coventry, 41, is the organisation’s first female and first African president in its 130-year history.
The Zimbabwean swimming great, already a towering figure in Olympic circles, emerged victorious to replace Thomas Bach, securing the top job in world sport and ushering in a new era for the Games.
"It's a big win for Africa," a Zimbabwean resident, Nigel Akimu said.
Coventry needed only one round of voting to clinch the race to succeed Bach, winning an immediate overall majority in the secret ballot with 49 of the available 97 votes.
A champion of sport development in Africa, Coventry has pledged to expand Olympic participation and ensure the Games remain relevant to younger generations.
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