Sebastian Coe was elected as the sixth International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) president at the 50th IAAF Congress in Beijing, China, yesterday. The voting was as follows (207 member federations cast their votes): Sebastian Coe (GBR) 115 votes, Sergey Bubka (UKR) 92 votes.

"I am deeply honoured that our sport has placed its trust in me. There is no job I want to do more - nor with greater commitment," said Coe.

Among the first to congratulate Sebastian Coe were the current IAAF president Lamine Diack and Sergey Bubka, who was later elected as an IAAF vice-president.

"We have a man who has devoted his life to the sport,"commented Diack.

"I know that athletics in the future will grow and become stronger and stronger," added Bubka.

Coe will take office on August 31, after the end of the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015.

"I'm very flattered, very, very honoured to have been elected president. I haven't had much of a chance to let it sink in," commented Coe at a press conference later yesterday.

"It has been a long road. I joined an athletics club when I was 11. I had the joys of Olympic competition and the joys of being able to put on one of the greatest sporting events ever, but this for me is the pinnacle. It's my sport, it's my passion, it's the thing I always wanted to do.

"It has been a long and hard campaign, but it has given us the chance to pause for breath, the chance to review and renew itself," added Coe.