LAUSANNE, MARCH 17: Beleaguered International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch firmly secured his position as head of the movement when he won a sweeping vote of confidence from IOC members, here, today.The 78-year-old had asked for a show of support in his leadership before the start of most dramatic meeting ever held by the IOC - one that will decide the fate of six members embroiled in the Salt Lake City scandal - amid rumours of top officials plotting to oust him.Samaranch, who has ruled the Olympic movement for 18 years, decided to crush any opposition by deciding to put his support within the movement to the test with a secret vote.It was a gamble that paid off with stunning success.With 90 members voting, 88 backed the former Spanish diplomat. Only two voiced opposition. There was one abstention and one blank voting slip.Samaranch left the hall while the vote was being taken and when it was over he swept back into the room to a standing ovation.Belgianexecutive board member Jacques Rogge, tipped as a possible successor to Samaranch, said afterwards: ``The outcome is good for the Olympic movement. The decision to conduct a secret ballot was a good one. It showed the true strength of the president's support from the members.''Samaranch has repeatedly refused to stand down following the corruption scandal that has severely tarnished the once golden image of the Olympics.Today's vote will now allow him to stay on until his retirement in 2001.IOC expels five members: The IOC today for the first time in its 105-year history expelled five members from its ranks by vote at the 108th session.The IOC expelled Augustin Arroyo of Ecuador, Jean-Claude Ganga of Congo-Brazzaville, Zein el Abdin Gadir of Sudan, Lamine Keita of Mali and Sergio Santander Fantini of Chile in the wake of the Salt Lake City bribery scandal.The expulsion vote on a sixth member, Paul Wallwork of Samoa, was to follow later today.
