British politician and former athlete Sebastian Coe attends the media at the residence of the British ambassador in San Jose, Costa Rica, August 6, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Your fight is my fight

In speeches to delegates before and after Wednesday's vote, the former politician did not mention doping once, saying only "trust and integrity" were the twin pillars of the sport.

He promised delegates he would empower federations to deliver the kind of sport they wanted, not dictate from its center.

Coe also reiterated his promise to hand each of the 214 federations a development grant of $200,000 in each Olympic cycle of four years, and to engage with governments to help utilise their funding to help athletes.

The financial acumen he gained in heading up the organising committee for the London Olympics would stand him in good stead as he seeks to bring new sponsorship to the sport, he added.

"All my life I have fought for athletics," said Coe. "I have fought to bring it to my country, I fought to be as good as I could, I fought to take it to young people.

"I fought to make my sport as strong as it could be.

"But I have never done it on any one of those occasions alone. I have always done it together with you my friends.

"I will always be in your corner, your fight is my fight."