Gosper had been president of the ONOC since 1989.

 

Mitchell was elected unopposed.

 

Gosper said: "I leave at a time when we have every island nation in Oceania recognised on the committee.

 

"That means every young athlete in our region has the door open to the Olympic Games.

 

Gosper, a former vice-president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will remain head of the IOC's Press Commission and will remain on the ONOC Board for a further five years.

 

Mitchell, a 63-year-old doctor, is a former Fiji international hockey player and athlete.

 

He was the coach of the Fiji hockey squad for six years between 1994 and 2000.

 

Mitchell has been a member of the IOC since 1994 and currently sits on its Medical Commission.

 

The ONOC was holding its two-day general assembly in Queenstown, on New Zealand's South Island.

 

IOC president Jacques Rogge attended the meetings, where the four candidate cities for the 2016 Olympics and five of the seven sports seeking a place on the Olympic sports programme are due to make presentations to regional delegates.

 

Sebastian Coe  is also flying into New Zealand to give an update on the progress of the 2012 London Olympics.