Olympic Games: Samaranch to stand for re-election

Juan Antonio Samaranch confirmed yesterday that he will stand again for re-election as president of the International Olympic Committee.

Samaranch, who turns 77 in July, will bid for a fourth term in one of the key positions in sport. If he wins, the Spaniard, who has a reputation as a diplomat as well as a shrewd businessman, has the chance to complete 21 years in office after taking over the job in 1980.

However, Samaranch, who has a chance to continue only because his Latin allies in the organisation managed to force a vote to raise the IOC age limit in 1995, said he would be in charge for the last time at an Olympic Games in Sydney in the year 2000.

"It was not a difficult decision. I like what I do. It is not a sacrifice to be president of the IOC," Samaranch said after the IOC announced that its four vice-presidents were putting his name forward to the vote in September.

If he completes his fourth term in office, Samaranch will be 81 by the time the next election takes place in 2001.