Australian John Coates to become IOC vice president

SYDNEY - Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) president John Coates will be elected as the new International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice president after his Syrian rival Sami Moudallah withdrew from the vote, local media reported on Tuesday.

The Australian Olympic chief was due to face Moudallah in the ballot scheduled for Wednesday but Moudallah withdrew his bid on Tuesday.

Coates, 63, who has been with the IOC since 2001, will be voted in at the 125th session of the IOC in Buenos Aires on Wednesday morning.

Coates said he had received enormous support in his quest to become a vice president.

"I am truly honored that none of my colleagues have chosen to stand against me and looking forward to supporting our new president and ultimately the athletes we represent," Coates said in an AOC statement.

"I thank my senior IOC colleague, Kevan Gosper and my AOC Executive for the encouragement and support they have given me. Kevan is the only other Australian to have held the position and his support and continuing wise counsel means a great deal to me."

Gosper, who spent 17 years on the IOC executive board, said Coates' imminent election was well deserved.

"It is a great privilege for us to have a Vice President of the IOC who is an Australian," Gosper said.

Coates will be the second Australian to fill the position of IOC vice president after Kevan Gosper.

The Australian top sports administrator played a key role in the bid of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

His involvement in Australia's Olympic Games teams dates back to 1976, when he was rowing manager at the Montreal Games.