Beijing win allows Samaranch first of two final wishes

Beijing's convincing victory in capturing the 2008 Olympics granted Juan Antonio Samaranch the first of two unstated wishes before he bows out after 21 years as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Though the octogenarian obtained the satisfaction of seeing China win the last venue vote of his tenure, getting his wish on his chosen successor in Monday's vote for the presidency may prove much trickier.

Friday's IOC vote to take the Games to the world's most populous country was controversial because of China's record on human rights.

But the IOC and Samaranch clearly wanted to take the Olympics to one of the world's most attractive growing economies and bring fully into the international sporting fold a nation that only returned to the Olympics 17 years ago after a 50-year absence.

Samaranch, as ever, refused to state his preferences in the votes but Olympic sources say he was desperately hoping he would be able to utter the word 'Beijing' as he opened the winner's envelope for the last time.

The IOC president played a key role in bringing China back into the IOC in 1979 and just four years after the start of his presidency in 1980, Chinese athletes made an historic return at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. He has been a frequent visitor to the country.

Though the world at large may pay less attention, many IOC members see Monday's vote to determine his successor as president to be the most important decision of Samaranch's last session in charge.

CONTRASTING STYLES

Sources close to Samaranch say he is keen to see Belgian surgeon-cum-yachtsman Jacques Rogge take his place although the two men have contrasting personalities and styles.

But the presidential vote is likely to be a lot closer than the 2008 decision which saw Beijing win in the second round with 56 votes to second-placed Toronto's 22. Samaranch is going to find it a lot harder to get his way.

The big question now is whether IOC members will back favourite Rogge or go for an Asian double at the Moscow meeting by voting for South Korean politician Kim Un-yong.

Canadian lawyer Dick Pound is the third heavyweight in a five-candidate race which also includes American Anita DeFrantz and Hungary's Pal Schmitt.

Over the next two days political wrangling will be the number one sport in the central Moscow hotel where the IOC is holding its meetings.

Rogge is the favourite in many people's eyes but former United Nations General Assembly delegate Kim has been working hard for votes and is likely to make the Belgian sweat for the most prestigious job in sport.

Rogge's strength is his ability to speak a handful of languages and he boasts a reputation as a problem solver. Like Samaranch, he has a diplomatic style in public.

But at 59 he is of a different generation to the Spaniard. Samaranch was often accused of running the IOC with a iron fist whereas Rogge is more of a consensus politician.

The former Olympic yachtsman reacted to the Beijing vote in an almost presidential manner.

"The message is that the IOC definitely wanted to open up to a country that represents a quarter of mankind and a country that never organised a Games before," he said.

"The message is one of universality and spreading Olympics to parts of the world where it has not yet arrived."