Mario Moccia has been honoured for his election as a vice-president of PASO ©COA

Mario Moccia has been honoured at a ceremony in Argentina for his election as a vice-president of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO).

Moccia, an Argentine Olympic Committee (COA) Executive Committee member, also heads the Pan American Handball Federation.

He ran unopposed for the Group Three vice-presidency at the PASO elections at Punte Del Este in Uruguay in April.

At the same election, Mexico's Carlos Padilla and St Vincent and the Grenadines' Keith Joseph were named as the Group One and Two vice-presidents respectively. 

The honour was presented to Moccia at the Islas Malvinas Awards.

The ceremony took place at the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Argentine National Congress, in Buenos Aires. 

The ceremony took place at the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Argentine National Congress ©COA
The ceremony took place at the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Argentine National Congress ©COA

"I am very happy and excited to receive this award, which I did not expect," said Moccia.

"What I achieved is the result of a team work because we are distributing the responsibilities of assuming leadership and decision-making roles for the benefit of Argentine, South American and Pan American sports.

"I am proud to have been elected vice-president of PASO.

"I am proud to have received this distinction and happy to share it with all of you."

Others to be honoured at the ceremony included 1995 Pan-American Games judo gold medallist Darío Osvaldo García, volleyball player Lucía Daniela Fresco and athlete Federico Bruno.

Rio 2016 hockey gold medallist Matías Paredes and volleyball player Emilce Sosa were also given awards.