LONDON: Former sports minister Sir Hugh Robertson has been elected to succeed Lord Sebastian Coe as chairman of the British Olympic Association.

Robertson steps up from his role as vice-chairman of the BOA, which he was appointed to in October 2015.

He beat Great Britain Hockey president Richard Leman by a clear majority to the role of chairman.

Robertson was the sports minister during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. He could hardly have entered office at brighter time after the record-breaking successes of the British teams at the Rio 2016 Games.

Coe decided to step down after being elected last year as president of the International Association of Athletics Federations.

Robertson, who will serve a four-year term, said: “After the success of Rio 2016, this is an extraordinarily exciting moment for British Olympic sport. I want to build on this success and drive the organisation forward both on and off the field of play.

“I would like to pay tribute to Lord Coe for the positive impact he has had on British sport, and in particular Olympic sport and it is with great pride that I follow in his footsteps.

“The success of Team GB does not come by chance and the meticulous preparations and dedication to the athletes will remain at the forefront of our work.

“I am thrilled to be part of this and to work collaboratively with our myriad stakeholders to provide the best possible platform for success for the athletes during the Summer and Winter Olympic programmes.”

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