(8 Jun 1998) Natural Sound
Officials attending the 51st Congress of FIFA, the world football governing body, arrived in Paris on Monday prepared to select a new president.
Delegates will vote on Monday to select a new head to replace outgoing President Joao Havelange.
The anticipated vote just days before the World Cup will end the bitter campaign for the post between European soccer federation (UEFA) President Lennart Johannson and FIFA Secretary General Sepp Blatter.
With the football world's biggest tournament set to start in two days, delegates from FIFA convened in Paris to chose a new leader.
While the rest of France was gearing up for the World Cup games, in Paris on Monday the legislative work of FIFA's 51st Congress was on the agenda.
The main task: to vote for a successor to President Joao Havelange, who spent 24 years in the job.
Sepp Blatter, one of the two contenders for the coveted post, arrived to face the crucial vote.
Blatter, as current Secretary General of FIFA, is second in command for the football organisation.
He hopes he will be the choice to replace Havelange, whom he served with for 17 years.
The other man hoping to be the football governing body's new leader is Lennart Johannson, president of Europe's soccer federation, UEFA.
The two men have waged a fierce battle for the post, trying to top one another with high profile endorsements.
Blatter touted the support of his boss Havelange and French football star Michel Platini, while Johansson on Sunday won the backing of the world's best known footballer, Pele.
The two men reportedly spent well over a million (m) dollars to campaign for the post, an unprecedented amount in a race that is traditionally conducted more behind the scenes.
A constant stream of arrivals was underway as delegates arrived by bus and car for Monday's vote.
The 192 international members, in their vote to decide who will get the top job in football, will ultimately have a hand in determining the venue for the 2006 World Cup finals.
If Sweden's Johannson wins, he has already said publicly he would likely favour Germany as the host.
Blatter, a Swiss German, has vowed to bring the World Cup to the African continent in 2006.
The 2002 World Cup venue has already been given to Japan and South Korea - an achievement by Havelange to bring the finals to Asia for the first time.
Whichever man comes out on top, the victor will play a key role in leading world football into the next century.
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