Norway's Svein Arne Hansen was elected the new president of the European Athletics Association at the body's congress in Bled, Slovenia, on Saturday.

Hansen, a former EAA vice-president, beat off a challenge from France's Jean Gracia and Antti Pihlakoski of Finland, garnering 26 of the 50 votes cast. Gracia polled 19 and Pihlakoski five.

Hansen, 68, succeeds Hansjörg Wirz of Switzerland, who is standing down after 16 years, having reached the association's retirement age of 70.

But he will not be able to stand for a second four-year term as he too will be over 70 when the next elections are held in 2019.

Hansen, vice-president from 2007 to 2011, lost out to Wirz in the 2011 presidential vote.

The new president is best known in athletics circles for having organised the Oslo Diamond League meeting from 19085 to 2009.
Source: AFP