Hansen was for many years the strong man behind the annual athletics gala at Bislett in Oslo, where Sebastian Coe competed during his active years around 40 years ago.

“I've lost one of my closest friends. He made it my first major breakthrough in athletics in 1979. He changed our sport forever, a proud man who kept the family in love and an effective and wise leader who helped generations of athletes to fulfill their dreams, ”the international writes athletics federation president Coe on Twitter.

Coe is one of the middle distance races of all time and is a double Olympic champion at 1500 meters. He was Olympic general at the London 2012 Games.

Hansen suffered a stroke in March and the death did not come as a surprise.

Had three years left on the record

From 2003 to 2015 he was chairman of the Norwegian Athletics Association. He had three years left on the assignment as chairman of the European Athletics Association. Bulgarian Dobromir Karamarinov is now taking over as new chairman.

Hansen trained the former European champion in high jump, Steinar Hoen, to take over the Bislett Games 2010.

- He taught me the game. He was unique and had contacts just about everywhere that I have benefited from. I have a lot to thank Svein Arne for. He had a different leadership style in the European Union and also made time for the small nations, Hoen tells Norwegian VG.

Hansen took a tough stance against Russia, which is still closed internationally for state-controlled doping.