Olympics: Rogge poised for IOC victory

Jacques Rogge is almost certain to be appointed as the new president of the International Olympic Committee.

The winner was elected in the second round of a secret ballot, with the result to be announced shortly.

With 110 members eligible to vote, Anita DeFrantz of the United States was eliminated in the first round.

After a second round of balloting, the IOC declared that one candidate had achieved the majority required for victory, but the vote count was not immediately given.

The members then left the conference room and headed across town to the Hall of Columns, where outgoing president Juan Antonio Samaranch was to announce the winner.

Samaranch is stepping down after 21 years in office.

Before the vote, members predicted that Rogge - a 59-year-old orthopedic surgeon - would win in the first or second round.

The delegates said the other leading candidates, South Korea's Kim Un-yong and Dick Pound of Canada, were out of the running.

DeFrantz and Hungary's Pal Schmitt were never serious contenders.