With seven months to go before the election the campaign is in

With seven months to go before the election, the campaign is in full throttle.So far, only one candidate has officially entered the race: Pal Schmitt of Hungary. Others are working behind the scenes, waiting for the right time to come forward, keeping their rivals guessing.”Everyone is keeping their cards glued to the chest,” said Gilady, an experienced player in the backroom poltical intrigues of the IOC. “They don’t want to give away what they want to do.”The two leading hopefuls are unquestionably Jacques Rogge of Belgium and Dick Pound of Canada. They have been privately campaigning, and everyone in the IOC is convinced they will run.”My status is I have not made any announcement as to whether I am a candidate,” Pound said. “That would be something I will decide over the next couple of months I’ve never done this before It’s a serious decision. It’s a major change in one’s life and location.”Said Rogge: “No decision at this stage – wait and see There’s plenty of time for all the candidates to decide.

The job is appealing for people who are really fond of the Olympic movement The downside is it takes a heavy toll on one’s private life. But I believe most of us come out of the world of competition and no one’s afraid of the challenge.”Many IOC members believe Rogge has the edge over Pound because of support from the large bloc of European delegates. But others say the Europeans are not fully united behind Rogge, and that Pound’s stock has risen.Two other potential candidates look increasingly likely to join the fray: Anita DeFrantz of the United States and Kim Un-yong of South Korea.”At some point I will consider it,” DeFrantz said. “I want to complete the work I set out to do.”Kim is even more coy, saying, “Do you think I should run?”IOC delegates believe some or all the contenders will make their intentions clear around the time of the next executive board meeting in Dakar, Senegal, in February.The IOC this week set April 10 as the deadline for the declaration of candidacies. That’s just over three months before the July 16 election in Moscow, the same city where Samaranch was elected in 1980.With Samaranch having been re-elected unopposed to successive terms, the majority of the IOC’s 100-plus members are entering uncharted territory for this first contested presidential election in more than two decades.Rogge, an orthopedic surgeon and former sailor, is president of the European Olympic Committees. He was the IOC’s point man for the 2000 Sydney Games and now oversees planning for Athens 2004.Pound, a lawyer and former swimmer, has become one of the most powerful figures in the Olympic movement as the man who negotiates the IOC’s multi-million-dollar television and sponsorship deals. He is also chairman of the new World Anti-Doping Agency.DeFrantz, a former rower and the IOC’s first vice president, is the highest-ranking American and woman in international sport.Kim is a longtime IOC powerbroker who commands wide influence in Olympic circles.

Many IOC members believe Kim, whether he runs or not, has the power to determine who wins or loses the election.A year ago, many had written Kim off. His son, John Kim, had been indicted in connection with the bribery scandal surrounding Salt Lake City’s winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games. The elder Kim had received a serious warning from the IOC in the affair after an internal investigation – headed by Pound.But Kim is back in the thick of things. He recently traveled to Washington as part of a South Korean diplomatic delegation, signaling he has nothing to fear from U.S. investigators in the Salt Lake case.Kim and Pound, long considered sworn enemies, were even seen dining together in Lausanne this week.While the heavyweights continue their political dance, Schmitt presses ahead with his longshot campaign.The former fencer, who won gold medals at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, cites his 18 years’ experience on the IOC – including eight years on the ruling executive board – and seven years as Hungary’s ambassador to Spain and Switzerland.”I went through the Samaranch school,” he said “I have the skills needed to be the leader. I am not better than any other candidates, but for sure I am not worse.”Schmitt has told friends he believes he can count on at least 45 votes, an assessment considered wildly unrealistic by senior IOC delegates.Asked about the reluctance of other candidates to step forward, Schmitt said: “Perhaps they are more clever Perhaps they don’t want to use their ammunition too soon.”. Chelsea have agreed a £12m fee for striker Robbie Keane with Internazionale, but could face similar problems to West Ham in their attempt to lure him back to the Premiership.

Chelsea have agreed a £12m fee for striker Robbie Keane with Internazionale, but could face similar problems to West Ham in their attempt to lure him back to the Premiership.
Keane is understood to be unsure as to his immediate future, but his two most likely choices seem to be staying in Italy until at least the end of the season or waiting to see if Leeds mount a serious bid.Chelsea’s offer has been accepted by Inter, and despite West Ham’s interest, the Blues believe they are still the only club to actually reach an agreement with the Serie A club over Keane.However, the striker’s initial reluctance to move to Stamford Bridge means the Blues must keep on monitoring the situation as they show they are prepared to reinvest the £12m received from Rangers for Tore Andre Flo.West Ham’s bid for Keane also failed, with their manager, Harry Redknapp, saying: “His agent told us Robbie wasn’t really sure he wanted to leave Inter”.The Aston Villa goalkeeper David James has made a transfer request. James has followed his club captain, Gareth Southgate, by wanting to leave the club and rejecting a new contract.The former Liverpool player – like Southgate – wants to leave Villa because of what he perceives as their lack of ambition. The Villa manager, John Gregory, had offered James a new three-and-a-half year deal which would put him on the same pay level as the club’s other big earners like Southgate, Paul Merson and Dion Dublin. However, James has insisted that money is not an issue.The Independent Supporters’ Association chairman, Ian Robathan, said: “I am not shocked by what David James has done It has not come as a big surprise. We’ve now got two of our most senior players on the transfer list because they say Villa lack ambition. The club say they don’t lack ambition – but I know who most of the fans believe.”David James is right and I hope the fans don’t react badly to him at Saturday’s game.