The newly elected President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC) Vessela Letcheva congratulated Kirsty Coventry, who was today elected President of the International Olympic Committee.
“I congratulate you on your election as President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This is a historic moment because you are the first woman to lead our prestigious organisation. The trust you have earned obliges you to continue on the path you have taken. You are receiving a solid legacy from President Thomas Bach and I am convinced that the International Olympic Committee faces a bright future and days of development and prosperity.
Your outstanding sporting career and then your experience as a leader will motivate more women to participate in sport. I am also particularly delighted that a member of the Public Affairs and Corporate Communications Committee is receiving such high recognition. I hope that we will move in the same direction and that our joint work will bring success to the whole Olympic movement,” reads the letter signed by Vesela Lecheva.
In addition to being a leader of the Bulgarian Olympic Movement, the former shooting champion is also a member of the IOC Public Affairs and Corporate Communications Commission.
The 41-year-old two-time Olympic swimming champion Coventry won the vote at the 144th IOC session in Pylos, in the western Peloponnese (Greece) in the first round with 49 votes from 97 valid ballots. She is the first woman to be elected president of the world’s largest sports organisation and the tenth president overall since the committee was founded in the late 19th century. She is also the first president who is not from Europe or the USA.
