Sebastian Coe looks certain to become the next chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA) after he confirmed that he would stand for election to succeed Colin Moynihan, who is stepping down.

Moynihan took most people by surprise when he announced at the end of London 2012 that he was resigning after seven years leading the BOA. 

Coe, 55, is seen as the obvious candidate to replace Moynihan having overseen London 2012, which are being seen as the most successful Olympics and Paralympics in history. 

He has now officially confirmed that he is available and made the announcement after watching the parade in London to celebrate Britain's success at London 2012. 

"I have been asked and I'm happy for my name to go forward," he said.

"I was asked formally and on this day of all days why wouldn't you want to help."

"I wouldn't presume anything but I was asked, I thought about it, and I have always had a huge debt of gratitude to the British Olympic Association."

Coe was only able to win his first Olympic gold medal at Moscow in 1980 after the then BOA chairman, Dennis Follows, defied Margaret Thatcher's Government demand that Britain boycott the Games over the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.

"They fought to allow me to go to Moscow, and actually everything I have done in the last few years might not have been possible had I not had that Olympic experience, so it's an organisation I have a deep, deep commitment to," said Coe.

"The BOA is a fantastic organisation."

Coe has already made public his ambitions to stand for President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) when Lamine Diack steps down in 2015. 

David Hemery, the BOA vice-chairman, and Richard Leman, the President of GB Hockey and a BOA Board member, have both been touted as possible contenders to replace Moynihan.

But with Coe's popularity at an all-time high it is unlikely either would stand against him at the election in November. 

A number of British athletes have already backed Coe, who also won an Olympic gold medal in the 1500m at Los Angeles in 1984, taking over as head of the BOA, including the eventing silver medallist Zara Phillips, whose mother, the Princess Royal, is the President of the organisation.

"He's an athlete himself and he has done all this with the Olympics and made it what it was - I don't there is anyone else you could put there," said Phillips.

Contact the writer of this story at duncan.mackay@insidethegames.biz

By Duncan Mackay

Source: www.insidethegames.biz