The 69-year-old lawyer and former volleyball player is almost certain to be re-elected to the position at the formal election in October as 24 of the 30 sports eligible to vote have already endorsed his candidature.

Support for Nuzman was led by Ary Graça, who had succeeded him as President of Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV), who also proposed that André Richer remain as vice-president of the COB.

"It makes no sense for Nuzman to quit now," said Graça.

"It is best that he stays on at least until [Rio] 2016."

That position was backed by several other high-profile sports who backed Nuzman.

"Brazil is a country in which we must join efforts to achieve things," said Roberto Gesta de Melo, President of the Brazilian Athletics Confederation (CABt).

"We need to be able to talk to the Government and coordinate our efforts.

"Nuzman is the person who does this best.

"It would be difficult to find another person who is able to this."

Nuzman's biggest critic is Alaor Azevedo, the President of the Brazilian Table Tennis (CBTM), who claims he still intends to stand for the COB Presidency, though he will face certain defeat.

"I will see what the reaction is before I decide what to do next," he said.

Nuzman denied that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had problems with him being the President of both the COB and Rio 2016.

But he will cease to be member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the end of this year as he reaches 70, the age at which he must step down.

That means that Brazil will be without an IOC member following the resignation last December of former FIFA President João Havelange amid claims of corruption.

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