By Duncan Mackay

Igal Carmi potraitMarch 17 - The Olympic Committee of Israel (OCI) has elected Igal Carmi as its new President.


He replaces Zvi Varshaviak, who has stood down after 16 years in the postion.

The 59-year-old Carmi, who is also the President and chief executive of Tadiran Batteries, was elected unopposed after Ze'ev Bielski, a former national league basketball player and member of the Knesset, withdrew from the race.

Israel failed to win an Olympic medal at London 2012 for the first time since Seoul 1988.

"We are embarking on a new road," said Carmi.

"It is our responsibility to unite all the forces in the country and work together to promote sports in Israel."

The OCI's first decision under Carmi was to set up a sports committee headed by Yael Arad, a 1992 Olympic judo silver medallist, to investigate how they can work more closely with Israel's elite sports department.

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