Bach gave a speech before Japan’s Morinari Watanabe was elected to replace Grandi, whose 20-year stint at the helm of the FIG will officially come to an end in December.

Watanabe, the secretary general of the Japan Gymnastics Association, claimed an overwhelming victory over Georges Guelzec, securing 100 of the 119 available votes to become the ninth FIG President since the organisation was formed in 1881.

The 57-year-old will start his reign on January 1.

An emotional moment for Grandi, an IOC member between 2000 and 2004, preceded the crucial elections as Bach spoke warmly about his “dear friend” and his contribution to the Olympic Movement.

At the end of his speech to the FIG delegates, the IOC President opted to reward Grandi, first appointed as President of the governing body in Atlanta in 1996, with the President’s Trophy.

The gesture was greeted with a standing ovation within the Congress hall as the Member Federations paid their tributes to Grandi, who oversaw a number of sweeping changes to the world of gymnastics - including scrapping the perfect 10 score and helping to elevate the sport into the top tier at the Olympic Games - as President.

“This gives me the opportunity to say thank you to a great man in gymnastics and a great man in world sport,” said Bach.

“Your President is a man who was not only leading your sport - he was a man who was living your sport and was a man who is loving your sport.

“He is full of passion for sport and its values.

“This for FIG was a tremendous achievement to have such a man being with all his heart with the athletes and with your sport and in such a way always ensuring that improving the credibility of your sport and by growing it in many respects.

“All this was not just falling from heaven – all of this was thanks to the great leadership and dedication of your President, who made this possible in a great team effort with all of you.

“We have many reasons to be grateful to him and we hope he will stay close to your sport in the future.”