Bach became the first person to officially declare he would be running for Presidency when the 59-year-old Olympic fencing champion from Würzburg announced his candidacy at a press conference in Frankfurt earlier this month.

Bach, who is currently one of four IOC vice-presidents and head of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), is considered the front-runner in the campaign to replace incumbent Jacques Rogge when the Belgian's 12-year reign ends at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires on September 10 and DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach has pledged his full support to his compatriot.

"I congratulate him on this step of declaring his candidacy," said Niersbach, elected DFB President last year following five years as the organisation's secretary general.

"It says lots about him and his courage.

"This is a daunting task.

"But if a representative of German sport stands at the head of the IOC, it would not only be recognition for him personally but for all of us in the country.

"He knows he has all the support of the DFB without ifs or buts.

"We are all behind him and we do not forget that he has helped us a lot in the past."


Bach's announcement was followed by one from Singapore's Ng Ser Miang, another IOC vice-president, who declared he would be entering the race at a press conference in Paris last week.

The pair are set to be joined in the race by head of the IOC's Finance and Audit Commissions Richard Carrión from Puerto Rico, President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) C K Wu from Taiwan, and vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Sergey Bubka from Ukraine.

All individuals must declare their candidacies for the role by June 10, when they will then become bound by the strict rules governing IOC election races.

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