Australia's Olympic bosses say Kirsty Coventry's ascension to IOC president is a watershed moment, but her election leaves a hole to be plugged for Brisbane's 2032 Games.

Coventry, a 41-year-old former champion Zimbabwean swimmer, is the first woman, first African and youngest-ever holder of sport's most powerful position.

But Coventry, voted as president by members in the 144th IOC session at Costa Navarino in Greece on Thursday, is expected to step down from a key position for Brisbane's 2032 Olympics.

Coventry had been the IOC's Brisbane 2032 coordination commission chair, a pivotal oversight role of a Queensland Games already mired in stoushes over finances and venues.

American Anita DeFrantz is currently vice-chair of the 18-member coordination commission, the IOC body monitoring and guiding Brisbane's organising committee.

The Queensland government, after much bickering, will next Tuesday release findings of a review into the '32 Games which will settle venues, infrastructure and costs.

Brisbane 2032 organising committee president Andrew Liveris said Coventry had been a key ally for the next edition of the Games in Australia.

"From a personal perspective and as chair of our Brisbane 2032 organising committee coordination commission, Kirsty has been incredibly positive, supportive and instrumental in promoting Brisbane 2032's progress across the IOC movement and beyond," Liveris said.

"Brisbane 2032 is fortunate to have had so much of Kirsty's experience and attention on our progress towards the Games in 2032 and I have no doubt that focus will continue in her new role as IOC president.

"The result is a resounding proclamation of Kirsty's leadership and an historic moment for the IOC and (Olympic) movement."

Coventry's initial eight-year term will run through the Brisbane Games with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) anticipating working alongside Coventry to deliver "the best possible" edition in 2032.

"Kirsty has over many, many years demonstrated a deep commitment to the Olympic movement," AOC president Ian Chesterman said.

"And she is well positioned to lead the International Olympic Committee in this next exciting phase for the organisation.

"She is a contemporary athlete, her fifth and final Games was in Rio in 2016, not long ago, so she will resonate with the athletes of today which is absolutely vital for our Olympic Movement.

"Through her role as the IOC's chair of the coordination commission for Brisbane 2032, Kirsty has already had great involvement in and been a great supporter of the Brisbane Games.

"And we look forward to working with her and her team to grow the Olympic Movement in Australia and delivering the best possible Games in 2032."

Coventry is only the 10th person to hold the presidency since the IOC's establishment in 1894 and will take over from Thomas Bach in June.

"Thomas has led the IOC through some incredibly challenging times including the delivery of the Tokyo Games during a global pandemic and has also been a great friend to Australia over many years," Chesterman said.