Ogi seen as strong contender to join Olympic Committee
The Swiss Olympic Federation is backing the former president and defence minister, Adolf Ogi, as a candidate for membership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is based in the western Swiss city of Lausanne.
The Swiss Olympic Federation – of which Ogi is honorary president – confirmed on Wednesday that it had put Ogi forward as a candidate for IOC membership.
Federation boss, Marco Blatter, said Ogi had a good chance of securing a seat, even though Switzerland is already over-represented, with five members on the committee.
Ogi confirmed his interest in joining the organisation in a newspaper interview on Wednesday.
He said he had entertained hopes of joining the IOC as long ago as 1988, but his candidature had not been pursued because no vacant seat was available at the time.
Rumours have been circulating about Ogi’s career ambitions since he stepped down as Swiss defence minister at the end of last year, after 13 years in the cabinet.
A keen sportsman and former sports minister, he was widely expected to take up a post in sporting or diplomatic circles.
Press speculation on Wednesday suggested that he might also be in the running for a job at the United Nations.
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