Svein Arne Hansen, the European Athletics president, has died at the age of 74.
Hansen, who was first elected president in 2015, died in Oslo after failing to recover from a stroke he had suffered in March.
European Athletics interim president Dobromir Karamarinov said: "I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Svein Arne today.
"He was a great leader, a visionary for our sport and a charismatic personality within the athletics family.
"He was much loved by all those who knew him well and above all he was a friend of the athletes. We have lost a great man."
Hansen, a former longtime organiser of the successful track and field Bislett Games in Norway, also played a key role in establishing the European sports championships, a continental multisports event where federations are also stakeholders.
Additional reporting by PA and Reuters.
