Monte Carlo (AP)-Kim Un-yong formally entered the race on April 3 to become president of the International Olympic Committee, two years after the powerful South Korean official faced possible expulsion in the Salt Lake City scandal.

Kim has made a remarkable recovery since being implicated in the biggest corruption case in the IOC’s history.

Accused of using his Olympic connections to benefit his offspring, Kim was the highest-ranking IOC delegate caught up in the vote-buying affair related to Salt Lake City’s winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games.

While six members were expelled and four resigned for accepting improper inducements, Kim-who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing-escaped with a "most severe" warning after an internal IOC inquiry.

Now, with his IOC standing apparently undiminished, Kim officially declared his candidacy for the most powerful post in international sports.
"You need an experienced president to bring the Olympic ideals back to where they belong," Kim said. "Without the Olympic ideals, the IOC is nothing."

Kim completes the five-person field in the contest to succeed Juan Antonio Samaranch, the 80-year-old Spaniard who is stepping down this summer after 2l years as head of the IOC.

The other candidates are Canada’s Dick Pound, who announced his bid in Montreal on Monday; Belgium’s Jacques Rogge; American IOC vice president Anita DeFrantz and Hungary’s Pal Schmitt.

Rogge, Kim and Pound are considered the main contenders, while DeFrantz and Schmitt are outsiders. The election will be held in Moscow on July l6.

Kim made his announcement at a news conference in Monaco, headquarters of the General Association of International Sports Federations, a body he has headed for l5 years.

Kim is also president of the World Taekwondo Federation. He helped organize the l988 Seoul Olympics, was instrumental in arranging the joint march of athletes from North and South Korea at last year’s Sydney Games, and has held numerous roles in the South Korean government.

Kim, who turned 70 last week, believes he has overcome any damage caused by the Salt Lake City scandal.

"I don’t know why I was implicated," the elder Kim said. "I’m a benefit giver, not a benefit taker. I have worked all my life for sports and helping others."

Once considered a potential target for U.S. prosecutors in the Salt Lake City case, Kim has made several recent trips to the United States without any problems even attending the inauguration of President George W. Bush.

Kim also dismissed suggestions that his age is a major disadvantage. As part of the reforms enacted following the scandal, the IOC reduced its age limit to 70. While the new regulation applies only to new delegates, some members have said it would send a wrong signal to elect a 70-year-old president.

"Who is more healthy?" Kim said. "Who has more jobs? Don’t I look l0 years younger than the others?"
Pound is 59, Rogge and Schmitt turn 59 next month, and DeFrantz is 48.

Kim, if elected, would be limited to a single eight-year term.