Germany’s Thomas Bach has been elected as the new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The 59-year-old former fencing gold medalist begins an eight-year term as president, succeeding 71-year-old Jacques Rogge, who is standing down after 12 years in office.
Bach was the favourite of six candidates in the final round of voting held in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
Boxing chief Wu Ching Kuo of Taiwan was eliminated after the first round of voting, leaving five contenders, Ukrainian athletics legend Sergey Bubka, Swiss Denis Oswald, Singapore’s Ng Ser Miang, Puerto Rico’s Richard Carrion, in the final round.
Bach amassed 49 votes ahead of Carrion’s 29, Ser Miang’s 6, Oswald’s 5 and Bubka’s 4.
The German lawyer, who becomes the ninth president of the IOC in its 119-year history said:
“I’d like to thank all my dear friends and colleagues who voted for me. This is an overwhelming sign of trust and confidence.
“I know of the great responsibility of being IOC president. This makes me humble.
“I want to lead according to my motto: ‘unity in diversity.’ This means I will do my very best to balance all the different interests of stakeholders of the Olympic Movement.”
