Kotov, who has experience in multiple fields outside of sport, replaces the outgoing George Katulin and was appointed at a meeting at the NOCRB headquarters in Minsk.

NOCRB President Alexander Lukashenko, who is the country's leader,, put forward the 35-year-old for the role as he was seen to have all the required qualities to take up the post.

The new secretary general speaks two languages and was given a glowing testimony from NOCRB vice-president Maxim Rizhenkov, who feels Kotov has the necessary management experience, organisational skills, fluency in foreign languages and communication skills.

Rizhenkov claimed that Kotov possesses the require business and personal qualities as well as the required experience in international activities.

Katulin, who had held the position since 2005, will continue to work with the NOCRB as an advisor and a member of the board, and the 60-year-old will also carry on as chairman of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) Olympic Games Commission.

During the meeting, Katulin was awarded the Medal of Merit for his contribution to the development of the Olympic Movement in Belarus.

Belarus enjoyed their most successful Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014, where they claimed five gold medals, the most they have won since since they gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. 

They also brought back a haul of 12 medals from London 2012, including two golds, five silvers and five bronze.

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