The 2000 Olympic triple jump champion and world record holder, UK Athletics’ nomination for the crucial role, received the second-highest number of votes of all candidates at the EAA annual meeting in Cannes.

 

He said: “It will be a great honour to represent UKA on the EAA Council.

 

"There are challenging times ahead for the sport and I look forward to working with the Council to strengthen our sport.

 

"I feel this combines well with my role with London 2012.”

 

Edwards’ election means that the UK maintains its tradition of always having had a representative among the continental governing body’s decision-makers and together with Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012 and a member of the ruling council of the world governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations, means Britain have a powerful duo at the top table of the sport.

 

The importance of the role was emphasised by his predecessor, John Lister, who has stepped down after 12 years on the Council but will remain on a steering group – along with EAA president Hansjorg Wirz, treasurer Christian Milz and competitions committee chairman Jose Luis de Carols – tasked with revamping the structure of the competitive season.

 

Lister, who was treasurer of the UK’s previous governing body, the British Athletics Federation, before moving to the EAA, emphasised that the financial health of the sport relies heavily on the successes at Olympic and World Championships levels of basically five European nations.

 

He explained: “Most of the income to run European Athletics – and, for that matter, the IAAF – comes from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and 80 per cent of that income in the main comes from Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

 

"So it is important to maintain the number of medals won by those countries at the highest level.

 

“It is essential that the efforts being made by UK Athletics to raise standards are successful.

 

"If British athletes ceased to win anything, you can be sure the BBC would think twice about supporting the domestic programme as it does.

 

"This is already happening in Germany; and it’s the same in Spain and very similar in Italy.”

 

But he added that each nation’s continued success, in the face of increasing competition from Africa and Asia as well as the ever-present quality of America, was dependent on “a more logical season of competition” throughout Europe.

 

“Change is needed,” Lister said.

 

“We have to revamp the entire meetings system so that it is relevant to the needs of the athletes.

 

“I feel quite proud to have got to the position where I can give a contribution that can make a difference for the future. I am delighted Jonathan can take up the baton.

 

"His contribution can be a good one because of who he is, what he has already done and what we all know he can do in this sport.

 

“I am confident the influence of the EAA is going to grow rather than diminish.”