Xinhua, October 2, 2009

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge Thursday said  that the Committee would go on eliminating doping and corruption.

"The IOC will continue to apply its zero-tolerance policy for doping, match-fixing and corruption, which seriously threaten sport," the Belgian said at the opening ceremony of the 121st IOC Session in Copenhagen.

The session will decide on Friday the host city of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games among Rio de Janeiro, Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid.

Leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama, from the four countries have come to the Danish capital to lobby for their candidate city.

The bid teams will make their final presentation before IOC members begin voting Friday afternoon. The result will be announced by Rogge in the evening.

Rio and Chicago, seen as front-runners of the four, are expected to experience a tight race.

Rogge also talked about the financial situation of the IOC, saying that the organization has not strongly affected by the financial crisis.

"Like every other major organization, we have felt the effects of the global economic downturn," he said. "We have met the challenges together, and our movement is as strong as ever."

Rogge, who has been in his post since 2001, is likely to be reelected as IOC president at this session as there are no other rivals for the post.

"The International Olympic Committee has maintained a solid financial foundation, thanks to a conservative investment strategy and strong support from our sponsoring partners and our broadcast rights-holders around the world," he said.