Former Tory sports minister Lord Moynihan promised to put political rivalries aside after winning the election to become new chairman of the British Olympic Association.

Moynihan beat ex-Olympic hurdler David Hemery by 28 votes to 15 to take over one of the key roles in the build-up to London hosting the Games in 2012.

The 50-year-old has been a fierce critic of the government and his election victory will cause some disquiet in Whitehall circles, but Moynihan insisted he has immediately stepped down from politics, even though he will retain the Tory whip in the House of Lords.

''I do not intend to be at loggerheads with anybody,'' said Moynihan after the election at Queens Club, London, to replace Craig Reedie, who has stepped down after 13 years.

''Government ministers recognise a constructive approach is critical and I have made the decision to stand down from active politics, very similar to what Seb Coe did when he was made bid chairman.''

Moynihan is friends with London 2012 chairman Coe, but the presence of two Tory peers in senior Olympic positions will be a challenge to a government who want the 2012 Games to be regarded as a New Labour legacy.

Coe and Moynihan will occupy two of the four places on the all-powerful Olympic Board, with culture secretary Tessa Jowell and London mayor Ken Livingstone taking the other two.

Moynihan said his main challenge now was to spearhead the effort in boosting the size of the British Olympic team from 270 competitors in Athens last year to more than 700 in 2012.

The BOA are also targeting Britain moving from tenth in the overall medal table to fourth at the London Games.

''I believe we have a duty to work effectively and constructively with government and their agencies,'' he added.

''We need a team approach to deliver the very highest standards in 2012 and I am honoured and humbled by the opportunity ahead of me.''

Moynihan said despite the drive to increase the number of British Olympic competitors, they would have to reach the qualification level before they would be allowed to compete in 2012.

''We need to start preparing now to improve all the summer sports,'' he added. ''The opportunity is there and that must be our goal.''

Moynihan will serve an initial three-year term and Hemery will remain as a vice-chairman.

Sports minister Richard Caborn intends to arrange a meeting next week but one topic off the agenda will be the independent sports review that Moynihan, one of the joint authors, published a fortnight ago and which was critical of government policy.

Jowell signalled her intent to get off on the right foot by issuing a message of congratulations. She added: ''The close co-operation between Government, the mayor and the BOA was a key factor in our success on July 6 in Singapore and I hope this spirit of partnership continues."