By Duncan Mackay

José Manuel ConstantinoMarch 26 - José Manuel Constantino was today elected as the new President of the Olympic Committee of Portugal (COP) after he defeated his only rival, Manuel José Marques Da Silva, by 92 votes to 67. 


The 62-year-old will replace Vicente Moura, who had held the post since 1997 but decided to step down after London 2012.

Constantino, who had chaired the Confederation of Sport Portugal and Sports Institute of Portugal, will be the 11th President of the COP and his mandate will cover Rio 2016, which will have extra significance for Portugal due to its close links with Brazil.

Constantino has promised to fight for extra funding for Portugal's Olympics sports and also to help "enhance the organisational capacity of the federations".

"I want to help improve your operation and help raise the standard of country's sports," he told delegates after being elected.

"This is the fundamental concern is that I will seek to take forward."

Portugal won only one medal at London 2012, a silver in the men's K-2 1,000 metres thanks to Fernando Pimenta and Emanuel Silva.

It was their worst performance since Barcelona 1992 when they had failed to win a medal.

Fernando Pimenta celebrate London 2012 silver medalFernando Pimenta and Emanuel Silva celebrate winning Portugal's only Olympic medal at London 2012, a silver in the K-2 1000 metres

But he warned that Portugal's sports must expect harsh times with the country suffering severe economic problems.

"Nobody is indifferent to the crisis that the country is experiencing," said  Constantino.

"No sector is unaffected."

Da Silva, who had been elected as secretary general at the election four years ago, is to be replaced in that role by José Manuel Saraiva de Lemos Araújo. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]