Intensive last-minute lobbying was under way last night as a leading drinks executive stepped up his effort to oust the controversial head of the Olympic Council of Ireland, Mr Pat Hickey.
While Mr Hickey - in the post since 1989 - is regarded as having started with a substantial lead, there was speculation yesterday that Mr Richard Burrows was closing the gap ahead of tonight's secret vote in Dublin.
A 10-man executive body and 27 Irish sports federations will enter a room in Jurys Hotel tonight to vote for the next president of the council. The format is first past the post - 19 votes will win it.
The election will determine who leads the organisation that selects, partly funds and organises Ireland's Olympic team for the Athens games in 2004.
Sports elections have rarely been as divisive or acrimonious, and while the candidates have been outwardly courteous towards each other, the two teams have been candid in their sparring.
Mr Burrows has said that corporate Ireland is "nervous" of the current OCI, which he claims "lacks transparency", while Mr Hickey has suggested that Mr Burrows's working base in Paris is too distant to do the job effectively.
Mr Burrows, the joint managing director of drinks company Pernod Ricard and a skilled sailor, faces one of Ireland's most confrontational operators in Mr Hickey, a judo black belt and a member of the International Olympic Committee.
The voting system has been a source of controversy as the executive traditionally vote en bloc, which gives Mr Hickey a 10point lead.
Nevertheless, Mr Burrows is confident he can secure the required backing of 19 federations.
"The groundswell for change has gathered considerable momentum over the last three days," said Mr Burrows. "Judo has endorsed me, cycling has endorsed me and three of our most senior Olympians [Michael Carruth, Eamon Coghlan and Mick Dowling] have endorsed me."
But Mr Hickey has not been disheartened by the refusal of his own sport to back him or yesterday's defection of the cycling federation.
"I believe they (the federations) want an OCI that will be an independent voice for sport, one that works in harmony with the Government and other bodies, yet is unafraid to stand up for the rights of sports, large and small," he said.
