The Electronic Telegraph Sunday 15 July 2001 David Miller ON FRIDAY evening, shortly after Beijing had been selected as host for Olympic Games 2008, two members of the International Olympic Committee, one a president of an international federation and the other a new athlete member, were asked what bearing that result might have on the possible election of Dr Un Yong Kim of South Korea as IOC president, the vote for which takes place here tomorrow morning. With spontaneous sincerity the athlete smiled and said: "I have no idea." Such are, in part, the farcical circumstances in which the most powerful position in world sport is about to be determined. Over-reacting in panic to the Salt Lake City scandals, which shook the IOC to their foundations, 10 additional former Olympic competitors were added to the already groaning membership, now approaching 130, in an attempt at political correctness. Most of them are unqualified to make an objective judgement. Meanwhile, the powerbrokers within the 1,000-strong bees nest of world sporting and financial executives who have invaded the International Hotel were already deep in consultation with their vested-interest colleagues. The men whose influence will push the tide in various ways are: Mario Vasquez Rana, Mexican media magnate and head of the association of all national Olympic committees, whose personal money has kept afloat the Pan-Am Games; Sheik Ahmad Al-Sabah, president of the Asian Olympic committees; Keba M'Baye of Senegal, international judge and eminence grise of Africa; Joao Havelange of Brazil, former president of FIFA and the IOC's most senior member; Thomas Bach of Germany, former fencing gold medallist, potential future president. Few in the world, and indeed not many within the Olympic movement, fully know Kim, complex and inscrutable even by Asian standards. He has emerged as an unexpected chief rival to Dr Jacques Rogge, Belgian orthopaedic surgeon and former yachtsman, who is seen as the "safe" middle-ground European choice. Dogging the heels of these two is the sharpest brain in the IOC, Richard Pound: Montreal QC, former Olympic swimmer, who over 20 years has established a billion-dollar platform supporting the games, yet whose wit and straight talking has forfeited some potential friends. Sandy Baldwin, the US president, has controversially come out in favour of Kim, stating that the 71-year-old Korean - high ranking politician/diplomat, single-handed initiator of the Seoul games - is best equipped to handle the looming Leviathan powers of China and America. Kim's handicap is that he received a censure from the IOC's special commission investigating ethical infringements in the Salt Lake saga, on financial charges never particularised. Kim, a member of the IOC's executive board, claims innocence. Rogge, who significantly has been chairman of the co-ordination committee of both Sydney 2000 and Athens '04 and is essentially non-aggressive, would be unstoppable if Europe's 57 members were united in a 121 total which makes down thus: Africa 17, Asia 17, Europe 57, Latin America 13, North America 11, Oceania 6. There are 118 present here, and members from candidates' own countries may not vote. An overall majority on the first round would be 55. While Beijing's victory will reduce by several votes the support for Kim, some Europeans refusing to favour Asia twice in four days, Europe lacks solidarity. Patrick Hickey of Ireland, for instance, has campaigned for Kim, on the expectation that Kim would subsequently assist Hickey's election as president of European Olympic committees. Mario Pescante, secretary-general of EOC, calculates that Rogge could have been scuppered, had Beijing been defeated - never likely - by reaction of Europeans backing the Chinese. Yesterday, both the Rogge and Kim camps were claiming up to 60 likely votes. Bach and Vasquez Rana estimate the pendulum is with Rogge. Ung Chang of North Korea says that opinion is equally divided on whether Beijing's nomination has helped or hindered Kim. Ching-Kuo Wu of Taiwan, a leading architect in the creation of Milton Keynes, reckons Kim may yet tactically counteract the anti-Asia spin. Africa-Asia, weary of a century of Euro-centric domination, would welcome the Beijing-Kim double. Late last night, however, Vasquez Rana, confident of a Rogge victory, was seeking a meeting with Kim to press him to withdraw and avoid the possible embarrassment of defeat. A further complication surrounds a rumoured deal between Kim and Pound, perceived antagonists, who were seen conversing intimately at Paris airport last week. Kim has made favourable subsidy overtures to impecunious third world members. If it goes to a final round between Rogge and Kim, I expect Pound-voters to swing predominately to Rogge, negotiator and compromiser in the Samaranch mould. It could be a close-run thing in a dinosaur organisation needing powerful leadership and substantial revision. Candidates ANITA DeFRANTZ United States Born: Oct 4, 1952. Occupation: Lawyer. Background: Member of IOC Executive Board. Bronze medallist, women's rowing eights 1976. Attempted legal injunction against President Carter over US boycott of Moscow in 1980. President of charitable American Athletic Federation. UN YONG KIM South Korea Born: March 19, 1931. Occupation: Diplomat and politician. Background: Masterminded Seoul's successful bid for 1988 Games. Ensured North and South Korea teams marched together at Sydney opening ceremony. President of the World Taekwondo Federation. RICHARD POUND Canada Born: March 22, 1942. Occupation: Lawyer. Background: Olympic swimming finalist. Right hand man of Juan Antonio Samaranch in negotiation of multi-million television rights contracts. Hardliner who wanted weightlifting banned from Olympics following drugs cases in 1988. JACQUES ROGGE Belgium Born: May 2, 1942. Occupation: Orthopaedic surgeon. Background: Four-times Olympic yachtsman. President of European Olympic Committees. Chairman of co-ordination commission for Sydney and Athens 2004. Secured financial health of Belgian Committee. PAL SCHMITT Hungary Born: May 13, 1942. Occupation: Businessman and diplomat. Background: Gold medal winner in team epee fencing in Mexico 1968 and Munich 1972. Is currently the president of the World Olympians' Association and lives in Switzerland, where he is the Hungarian ambassador. Eamonn Condon www.RunnersGoal.com
