Australian Bob Elphinston was elected as new FIBA President for the 2006-2010 term of office, the International Basketball Federation announced.

The world basketball governing body had the World Congress on Tuesday in the Tokyo Prince Hotel Park Tower, with a total of 104 national federations presenting at the Congress.

Elphinston, 64, took the post from former president Carl Men Ky Ching.

"I'm enormously proud to be elected as President of FIBA and to be only the third Australian ever to be President of an International Olympic Sports Federation," Elphinston said according to a press release of FIBA.

Elphinston had 10-year Olympic involvement after he helped Sydney of Australia to win the host of the 2000 Olympic Games as the general manager of the Sydney Olympics Bid Company.

His vast experience with the Games worked out a close relationship with the International Olympic Committee and the FIBA　　as he was one of the founding directors of the Australian National Basketball League.

"A role as President gives me the chance to directly assist a great sport grow even more," Elphinston said. "FIBA looks forward to an exciting Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, increased commercial opportunities and player development with the emphasis of further developing strong leagues in all 212 member federations."

The World Congress also ratified the composition of the FIBA Central Board for the 2006-2010 term of office. The Central Board is the highest executive body of FIBA and meets twice a year.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2006)