Coventry receives golden key

Outgoing Bach says IOC in 'best of hands'

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New International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry pledged on Monday to strengthen and extend the reach of the Games, as Zimbabwe's Olympic swimming champion took over from Thomas Bach in a ceremony in Lausanne.

Coventry, who started her eight-year spell officially yesterday as the most powerful sports administrator in the world, became the first woman and the first African to be elected head of the Olympic ruling body in March.

The IOC generates several billion dollars in revenues each year in sponsorship and broadcasting deals for the summer and winter Olympics.

Coventry needed only one round of voting to clinch the race to succeed Bach, beating six other candidates. On Monday she was handed the golden key to the IOC by Bach, who was in charge for 12 years.