Rogge to run for re-election

Jacques Rogge has confirmed he will run for another term as president of the International Olympic Committee.

Rogge, who has held the position since 2001, has informed IOC members that he intends to prolong his initial eight-year tenure by a further four years.

“Jacques Rogge has sent out a letter to IOC members informing them that he intends to run for re-election,” IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau told PA Sport.

“His current term will officially come to an end during the IOC Session in Copenhagen in October 2009, and so far no other candidates have come forward.”

It is widely expected that Rogge, who replaced Juan Antonio Samaranch as the IOC’s eighth president seven years ago, will run unopposed for another term.

During his time at the helm the 66-year-old Belgian has created the Youth Olympic Games, with Singapore scheduled to stage the inaugural event in 2010.

Rogge has also overseen the 2002 and 2006 Winter Games in Salt Lake City and Turin respectively, and the 2004 and 2008 summer Olympics in Athens and Beijing.

Another four-year term would see Rogge installed as IOC chief for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and the 2012 Olympics in London.

At the Copenhagen IOC session, the winning bid for the 2016 Olympics will also be announced, with Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Chicago the remaining contenders.