The Norwegian, who turns 73 this year, was first elected in 2015 and will now stand for a second term at the European Athletics Congress in Prague this April.

Three positions as vice-president will also be up for grabs at the Congress, as will 13 positions on the European Athletics Council.

When Hansen became President four years ago, he only intended to serve one term, but in April last year the Norwegian admitted he would be "happy" to serve for a further four years if European Athletics' Member Federations wanted him.

"I am humbled to confirm that I will be the only candidate for the Presidency of European Athletics for another period at our Congress in Prague in April," Hansen said in a statement posted on Twitter.

"I am grateful for the support from all the members. 

"Lots of strong candidates for Council and historic first ever female vice-president."

During his time as President Hansen has witnessed athletics feature in the inaugural multi-sport European Championships across Berlin and Glasgow.

He has also overseen the creation of the "Dynamic New Athletics" (DNA) discipline, which is set to be trialed at this year's European Games in Minsk.

The opening event - the Track’athlon - will consist of an athletics assault course featuring a sled run, shot put toss, standing long jump, water jump, medicine ball run and parachute run.

The competition will conclude with another new event - "The Hunt" - a distance-medley race in which the best-performing teams in the first nine events will get a proportionate head start.

It is hoped the format will help attract a younger audience.

When the Congress goes ahead on April 13, in total seven people will stand for vice-president.

They include Great Britain's Cherry Alexander, Jean Gracia from France - who has previously served as interim chief executive of the International Association of Athletics Federations and is standing for re-election - and Finland's Antti Pihlakoski, who currently sits on the Council and ran unsuccessfully for President in 2015.

There are also 25 candidates competing for 13 positions on the Council.

Among those names is Spain's Raul Chapado Serrano - a former triple jumper - Austria's Sonja Spendelhofer and Estonia's Erich Teigamagi, who is President of the Estonian Athletic Association.

New rules introduced since the last elections now dictate that among the President and vice-president positions there must be at least one person of each gender.

There must also now be at least three people of each gender on the Council.