• London Olympics 2012

Coe confirmed as BOA chairman

Sebastian Coe oversaw a hugely successful Olympic Games in 2012 © Getty Images

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Sebastian Coe has been installed as the new chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA) chairman, succeeding Colin Moynihan after being voted in unopposed.

Coe's only competition for the role, head of British hockey Richard Leman, withdrew from the election in October to clear the path for the two-time Olympic champion following his role in delivering "the most successful Olympics in history".

The 56-year-old, who is still in charge of the London 2012 organising committee as the organisation winds down after the Games, was elected at a meeting of all the British Olympic sports in London on Wednesday and will hope to end simmering tensions between the two bodies.

The BOA were involved in a cash dispute over the money the governing body expected to receive from the Olympics, eventually dropping their threat of legal action against LOCOG in an episode described as "an embarrassment" by Olympics minister Hugh Robertson in the run-up to the Games.

It is hoped that the good will and high standing of Coe in both the realms of sport and politics will help attract new sponsors to the cash-strapped organisation as they move on from the London Olympics 2012.

And while the BOA may not be directly responsible for the preparation and performance of Great Britain's athletes ahead of the Rio Olympics 2016, it is a chance for the four-time Olympic medallist to repay the body that campaigned for Great Britain's right to compete in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, boycotted by the United States, in which he won his first 1500m gold.

Coe succeeds Lord Moynihan, who stepped down as chairman after seven years. The former Conservative MP is also vice-president of the IAAF, and has stated his intention to stand for president of the international governing body of athletics when the post becomes available, possibly in 2015.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.