Baku, April 14, AZERTAC
Svein Arne Hansen was elected as new European Athletics president, taking over from Hansjörg Wirtz.
The Norwegian Hansen received 26 votes in a ballot among the 50 member federations at the European Athletics congress in Bled, Slovenia, beating Frenchman Jean Gracia (19 votes) and Antti Pihlakoski of Finland (5).
Hansen's vice-presidents are Gracia, Bulgaria's Dobrimir Karamarinov and Frank Hensel of Germany.
Wirtz, who did not seek another term, had presided over the European body for16 years since 1999 and is now honorary president. He narrowly beat Hansen, the newly elect president, in the 2011 elections.