Hugh Robertson elected chair of British Olympic Association

LONDON (AP) Former British Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has been elected chairman of the country's national Olympic committee.

Robertson succeeds Sebastian Coe as head of the British Olympic Association.

Robertson, who helped oversee London's hosting of the 2012 Olympics, defeated British field hockey federation president Richard Leman in Thursday's vote.

Robertson, who had been a vice president of the BOA since last year, will serve a four-year term.

Coe, who held the BOA post for four years, is stepping down to focus on his role as president of the International Association of Athletics Federation.

Britain won 67 medals at the Rio de Janeiro Games, finishing second in the table behind the United States.

Robertson says he wants to ''build on this success and drive the organization forward both on and off the field of play.''