In the final days of the campaign, the South Korean politician, Kim un Yong, had amassed powerful support from Asia and Africa, and among the sports federations.

But he was given a severe warning during the Salt Lake City scandal and, on the day before the election, was reported to the Ethic Commission over allegations that he disclosed the level of expenses he would pay IOC members if he was made president.

He was cleared, but the whiff of a further scandal ended Kim's hopes.

Dick Pound, the Canadian lawyer favoured by many, was also rebuked in public when Samaranch said doping was a mess and a major conference was needed to sort it out.

Samaranch triple

The Samaranch triple was also completed on the final day when his son, Juan Antonio Samaranch junior, was elected as a member of the Interntional Olympic Committee.

Senior IOC officials had warned him that proposing his son for membership would lead to charges of nepotism and damage the good that had come out of the reforms to make the IOC more accountable and transparent.

He rejected the advice and "Juanito", as he is called, was voted in.

Although Samaranch senior appears to have control, the IOC members showed they do still have some teeth.

Samaranch's proposal of former President of Switzerland, Adolf Ogi, was rejected.

It wasn't Mr Ogi's fault.

Switzerland, the headquarters of the IOC, has five members including the president of Fifa, Sepp Blatter. Having six for a country of only seven million people was a step too far.

The setback wasn't enough to erase the smile of Juan Antonio Samaranch, as he smacked the gavel down on the table to end the 112th Session and bring to an end what many will see as a successful Olympic career.