Paralympics: Craven is elected president

The Briton Philip Craven was elected president of the International Paralympic Committee in Athens yesterday. Craven, a former wheelchair basketball player and swimmer, said: ''The election was a bit like a big basketball game. I was a bit uncertain at the beginning but I slam-dunked a few at the end.''

Voting took place over three rounds with Craving polling 59 votes to the 39 of France's François Terranova in the final round. The Australian Bob McCullough was the first round casualty with Sweden's Hans Lindstrom the next to be eliminated.

"My 12 years as president of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation have made me a good listener and that counted in my favour,'' Craven added. British delegates were delighted. "Some feel our influence is waning, so having a Briton at the top of our international organisation is a huge step forward," said the British Paralympic Association's secretary, Philip Lane.