Sole candidate Sir Hugh Robertson set to be elected as vice-chairman of British Olympic Association

Sir Hugh Robertson is set to be elected as the vice-chairman of the British Olympic Association ©Getty Images

Former Sports Minister Sir Hugh Robertson is expected to be elected as vice-chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA), insidethegames has been told.

Robertson, who was involved with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in his role as Minister for Sport and the Olympics, is the only candidate for the position and is set to replace David Hemery, who retired the vice-chairmanship this month.

The nomination period for the role has already closed and he will therefore stand unopposed.

Robertson, who received the Sport and Recreation Alliance's prestigious Emeritus Award for his contribution to sport as part of his work during London 2012, was nominated for the position by current BOA chairman Sebastian Coe, who was recently elected as President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in Beijing.

He represented Britain's double Olympic 1,500 metres champion as scrutineer for the election, held at the IAAF Congress in the Chinese city ahead of the World Athletics Championships, and correctly called the toss of a coin and decided that Coe would give his five-minute presentation after his challenger, Olympic pole vaulting champion Sergey Bubka of Ukraine.

The 52-year-old, a former Member of Parliament for Faversham and Mid Kent and who served as Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs until July 2014, will be given the position at the BOA’s General Assembly, due to take place on October 20 in Stockport as long as he receives the required 51 per cent majority during the secret ballot.

Hugh Robertson was nominated for the BOA vice-chairmanship by current IAAF President and BOA chairman Sebastian Coe ©Getty Images

Richard Leman, the President of Great Britain Hockey and who was part of the British team which won gold in the sport at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, was rumoured to be interested but didn’t submit a nomination.

It has been claimed Leman opted not to run following Coe putting Robertson forward for the job.

Coe’s chairmanship of the BOA will come to an end in October 2016, with Robertson now his likely successor.