Thomas Bach of Germany on Tuesday in Buenos Aires, Argentina emerged as the ninth President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
He will head the Olympic Movement for eight years.
A statement from the IOC said the election followed two rounds of voting by a secret ballot system at the 125th IOC Session.
Bach was chosen over fellow presidential candidates Sergey Bubka from Ukraine, Richard Carrion of Pueto Rico, Ser Miang-Ng of Singapore, Denis Oswald of Switzerland and Ching-kuo Wu from China.
The statement quoted the newly-elected president, in his acceptance speech, as urging IOC members to work in harmony towards a brighter future for the Olympics.
“Thank you very much to all of you. Let this great universal orchestra of IOC members play together in harmony towards a bright future for the Olympic Movement under the leadership of the IOC,’’ he said.
The 60-year-old German became an IOC member in 1991 and has the opportunity to stand for re-election for a second term of four years.
He replaced Jacques Rogge whose 12-year tenure officially ends at the end of the 125th IOC session on Tuesday.
