The Scot is one of three International Olympic Committee (IOC) members chasing two spots on the ruling Executive Board but he and Carrion have effectively agreed to let Nawal El Moutawakel have one of them.

 

The Moroccan, who became the first woman from a predominantly Islamic country to win a medal at the Games when she won the 400 metres hurdles in Los Angeles in 1984, is set to become the highest-ranking woman in the Olympic Movement.

 

The IOC Board elections will be held in Beijing tomorrow morning, but her elevation onto the 15-member body was nearly assured today when Sir Craig and Carrion said they would stand aside so she could be elected.

 

El Moutawakel will fill an unofficial vacancy for a female member on the board.

 

IOC vice-president Gunilla Lindberg of Sweden is leaving the board after her four-year term expired.

 

Lindberg's vice-president spot is set to be filled by China's Yu Zaiqing, who will move up from being a regular member of the Executive Board to become one of four vice-presidents.

 

Carrion, who leads the powerful IOC Finance Commission, is seeking re-election to the board and is expected to poll more votes than Sir Craig as he is a key ally of the President Jacques Rogge.

 

Carrion and Sir Craig also could have run for the regular spot being vacated by Yu.

 

But Carrion announced to the IOC Session today that he was withdrawing from consideration for that slot so that El Moutawakel could take it.

 

That meant Sir Craig had little choice but to follow suit.

 

Sir Craig said: "I look forward to a friendly contest for the second seat with Mr. Carrion."

 

The 67-year-old from Stirling is the former chairman of the British Olympic Association and oversaw the introduction of badminton into the Olympics in his role as chairman of the International Badminton Federation.

 

Carrion said the IOC needs a woman on the board to help meet its targets for female representation.

 

The IOC set a goal in 1996 of having women make up 20 percent of the membership.

 

As of today, only 16 of the 110 members are women - six short of the target.

 

El Moutawakel said she was "touched and moved'' by Carrion's gesture, and also thanked Sir Craig.

 

Four other spots on the board will be filled in straightforward fashion.

 

Denis Oswald, the head of the IOC's Co-ordination Commission monitoring London's preparations for 2012, and Mario Vazquez Rana are to be reconfirmed as representatives of the Summer Sports Federations and National Olympic Committees, respectively.

 

Rene Fasel, head of the international ice hockey federation, will replace Italy's Ottavio Cinquanta as the winter sports delegate.

 

And former sprinter Frankie Fredericks of Namibia will take over for Sergey Bubka as the athlete representative, as reported on insidethegames yesterday.