LAUSANNE, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry took over the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from Thomas Bach on Monday during a handover ceremony at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The 41-year-old former Olympic swimming champion, now the IOC's 10th president, is the first woman and the first African to lead the global sports body in its 131-year history.

Outgoing President Bach paid tribute to IOC founder Pierre de Coubertin during the ceremony.

"Today is a day of gratitude. Today is a day of confidence. Today is a day of joy," said Bach.

"There are many emotions I feel in this moment - but most of all, I feel gratitude. Gratitude, above all, to our beloved founder Pierre de Coubertin - whose body rests just a stone's throw from here, and whose heart lies in ancient Olympia. To him we owe everything."

Bach added: "I am sure, he is watching us today from his Olympic heights, with that familiar smile, and that he feels content to see his - our - Olympic Movement flourishing, true to his vision and more relevant than ever." ■