Hickey, 68, has led the EOC since 2006 having previously been vice-president and secretary general. 

Another four-year term means that the Dubliner will be in charge to oversee the staging of the inaugural European Games in Baku in 2015, an event that has been very much Hickey's baby.

"I have worked hard to make the European Games become a reality," Hickey, who is also vice-president of the Association of National Olympic Committees, told insidethegames.

"I hope my efforts will be appreciated and I get the backing of the Assembly for another term.

"That would give me a privilege to experience the first European Games as head of the organisation.

"My enthusiasm is still there and the dedication never wavered.

"I know I can give more so I will be seeking the support of member delegates in the EOC vote."

Coe, former chairman of London 2012 and now head of the British Olympic Association (BOA), made a late decision to stand for the Executive Board at the election during the EOC General Assembly in Rome on November 22. 

Sebastian Coe will be hoping to replace Colin Moynihan as Britain's representative on the European Olympic Committees' ruling Executive Committee

He is one of 19 candidates chasing 12 places.

Five of the candidates, including Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee and leader of Madrid's unsuccessful bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, will be seeking re-election.

Among those standing down is Colin Moynihan, who Coe replaced as chairman of the BOA. 

Other candidates seeking election include Hasan Arat, vice-president of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey and chairman of Istanbul's unuscessful bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, Denis Masseglia, head of the French National Olympic Committee, and Michael Vesper, general director of the German Olympic Sports Confederation. 

There will be a new vice-president with Russia's Alexandr Kozlovsky being replaced by Janez Kocijancic, head of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia, who is unopposed.

Italy's Raffaele Pagnozzi will stay as secretary general and Cyprus' Kikis Lazarides will remain as treasurer as both are unopposed. 

But the problem of getting women involved in top level sports administration is illustrated by the fact there is only one female candidate for any position.

That is 47-year-old Daina Gudzineviciute, the Sydney 2000 Olympic shooting trap gold medallist who is now President of the National Olympic Committee of Lithuania, who is standing for a place on the Executive Committee.

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