MONTREAL (AP) — Dick Pound, one of the most powerful figures in the Olympics, will seek the job of International Olympic Committee president.
The Montreal lawyer announced his candidacy Monday to succeed Juan Antonio Samaranch, who has held the position for 21 years.
Pound, 59, becomes the fourth candidate to join the race, following Jacques Rogge of Belgium, Anita DeFrantz of the United States and Pal Schmitt of Hungary. Un Yong Kim of South Korea is expected to join the race Tuesday.
The deadline to declare is April 10. The winner will be determined in a vote by the full IOC membership in July in Moscow.
"After 23 years as a member of the IOC, I am running for this office with genuine anticipation, secure in the knowledge that I have an even more important contribution to make to the movement and institution to which I have devoted my life," Pound said.
Pound has done almost everything there is to do in the Olympics — from swimming in the 1960 Rome Games to serving as a top IOC official.
Pound negotiates the IOC's multimillion-dollar TV and sponsorship deals. He was IOC vice president to Samaranch from 1996-2000.
Pound also headed the IOC investigation of the bribery scandal surrounding next year's Salt Lake City Games that resulted in 10 IOC members being expelled or resigning.