Dick Pound

Dick Pound (59), is a native of St Catharines, Ontario. A former Olympic swimmer, he has been an IOC member since 1978, a member of its executive board since 1983, and served two terms as vice-president. He also was a former head of the Canadian Olympic Association. Now a Montreal tax lawyer, he negotiated the IOC's television and sponsorship deals, chaired the World Anti-Doping Agency and was head man in the IOC's investigation of the involvement of its members in the Salt Lake City bidding scandal. Pound is generally thought to be a cold fish and, it is rumoured, lost many votes with his tough stance on the Salt Lake City issue.

Anita DeFrantz

Anita DeFrantz (US): Electing a 48-year-old black female rower would be novel. Indeed it would be sensible. DeFrantz won a bronze medal in the Montreal Olympics of 1976. Clumsy with people, she alienated the IOC's new athlete members by giving them an impromptu quiz on Olympic history. Has difficulties with French, an official language of the IOC, and hasn't impressed IOC members as an intellectual.

Dr Un Yong Kim

Dr Un Yong Kim might have been harder to beat a decade ago. Now in his 70s, he's distinctly old-style. He was almost expelled: he received a "most severe warning" for allegedly helping his son (later indicted) get a no-work job in the Salt Lake City process. Dr Kim is from a line of IOC members, one of whom killed himself and his family after being caught fixing a general election. He is also a member of the South Korean parliament, has held senior roles in the government and served in diplomatic posts at the United Nations, London and Washington. Not only was Kim censured by the IOC in the Salt Lake City corruption scandal, but his son John was indicted in the United States for immigration fraud. They say that if he does not win no one else will without his support, which may be why he was seen dining with his old nemesis, Dick Pound, in Australia during the spring.

Pal Schmitt

Pal Schmitt, the 58-year-old Hungarian ambassador to Spain, won fencing gold medals in 1968 and 1972. He was the first to enter the presidential race, and has had longest to plan his campaign. To no avail. Most estimates don't see him getting over 10 votes. His 18 years' experience on the IOC includes eight on the executive board and seven as his country's ambassador to Spain and Switzerland.