Gabrovec, who is also President of the national judo association and has been vice-president of the OKS for a number of years, was named the winner after two rounds of voting when he polled 89 votes against politician Zoran Janković's 51.

The first round of the secret ballot saw Gabrovec garnering 64 votes, Janković receiving 40 and third candidate, Olympic canoeing silver medallist Andraž Vehovar, falling out of contention with 38 votes.

Gabrovec becomes only the second OKS President since Slovenia went independent in 1991 and replaces Janez Kocijančič, who was named Honorary President after leading the body for 23 years.

"I see this as a sporting decision," he said in his acceptance speech.

Janković congratulated Gabrovec on his new position and wished the OKS luck under its new leader.

Bogdan Gabrovec, pictured left here with then Slovenian President Danilo Türk, was the national team's Chef de Mission at the London 2012 Olympics ©Getty Images


Gabrovec, who led the Slovenian delegation to the London 2012 Olympic Games where they won one gold, one silver and two bronze medals, has highlighted youth development and ensuring a future for retired athletes and officials as priorities in his new role, while the national sports federations are hoping he will further strengthen the financial capacity of the organisation.

He also spoke of regulating foreign online betting sites and providing a strong framework to help associations build their programmes and maintain basic financial security to avoid what happened to the Slovenian Water Polo Association when it became crippled by debt.

"I want to make sure that the case of the Water Polo Association never happens again," Gabrovec added.

Ljubljana Sports Association head Janez Sodržnik, Olympic rowing gold medallist Iztok Čop and former taekwondo world champion Tomaž Barada were all elected as vice-presidents of the OKS.

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