BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- It’s strange to see someone who broke 35 world records as an underdog, but that’s exactly what Sergei Bubka is. The legendary pole vaulter is attempting to make the leap to president of the international Olympic Committee when Jacques Rogge steps down.

But at 49 he is by far the youngest of the six candidates. None-the-less Bubka insists he does have enough experience, and says he is ready to give back to athletics.

"Since 1996 I become a member of the IOC athletic commission, since 1999 an IOC member, from 2001 engaged with IAAF as a council member and (since) 2007 a vice-president, the president of the National Olympic Committee, then my business experience - this is really my life, and I’m very happy to give back, give back to sport, to help athletes to develop their career, and of course to serve the Olympic movement. The size of the Games as I said, the cost, the complexity - this is very important and a serious way to deal for the future of the Games. And we can see it is huge interest to be in the programme. And of course we need to find the right balance of the costs and a size of the programme, because the programme is an important part of the success of the Games. Because the programme should be attractive, very interesting, and you need to have most important sports in the Olympic programme." Sergei Bubka said.

(Source: cntv.cn)