Jan Vapaavuori has been elected as the new President of the Finnish Olympic Committee ©EOC

Mayor of Helsinki Jan Vapaavuori has been elected as the new President of the Finnish Olympic Committee.

The 55-year-old defeated Susanna Rahkamo 79-54 after the second round of voting at the organisation's General Assembly.

He will now replace Timo Ritakallio, who was elected for his first four-year term in 2016 but opted against running again.

Vapaavuori became Helsinki Mayor in 2017 but has announced he will not stand for another term at elections due to take place in April.

He has served a long political career with the National Coalition Party, and was as a Member of Parliament between 2003 and 2015.

From 2012 to 2015 he was Finland's Minister of Economic Affairs.

The Finnish Olympic Committee has also elected a new Executive Board ©SOK
The Finnish Olympic Committee has also elected a new Executive Board ©SOK

Rahkamo, a former figure skater who won ice dance gold at the 1995 European Championships and two world medals, will now serve as vice-president, alongside Sari Multala, a double world champion in laser radial sailing.

A new Executive Board has also been elected, with five men and five women as members.

Marco Casagrande, Markku Haapasalmi, Hanna Hartikainen, Tapio Korjus, Katja Mjøsund and Esa Niemi will all take roles, representing the sports of football, skiing, golf, fitness sport, biathlon and judo respectively.

They will be joined by athlete representatives Mika Poutala, a speed skater, and weightlifter Anni Vuohijoki.

Finnish International Olympic Committee (IOC) members Sari Essayah and Emma Terho will also take Executive Board seats, representing the IOC. 

Helsinki hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1952.