The 56-year-old German claimed that he "had been asked by many people to run for another term" when his current period as IOC vice-president ends.

The IOC members will vote on it at their 122nd Session, which is due to take place on the eve of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Bach, a former fencer who won an Olympic gold at Montreal in 1976, was elected as a member of the IOC in 1991 and served eight years on the Executive Board between 1996 and 2004.

He was then elected as vice-president in 2006 and has also been chairman of the influential IOC Juridical Commission since 2002 and serves on the marketing and television rights, including negotiating the broadcast rights for Europe.

Bach, the founding President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), is tipped by several experts as a potential successor to Jacques Rogge when the Belgian steps down as President of the IOC in 2013.

Rogge himself has claimed Bach is one of "five, six"  IOC members who might succeed him in 2013 after 12 years in office.

In a recent interview, Rogge said: "He has much knowledge and he knows the Olympic Movement very, very well.

"He has the right mind and the right philosophy for the Movement.

"He is an Olympic champion, who chairs a major National Olympic Committee.

"He is our top legal expert.

"And he has long served in the IOC Executive board.

"He is a top candidate."

Bach's presence on the Executive Board will also boost Munich's bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, a decision that is due to be taken at the IOC Session in Durban on July 6, 2011, when the German city will be up against Annecy and Pyeongchang.

Bach is the chairman of the General Assembly of Munich 2018 and plans to play a leading role in the bid.

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