The move comes after the 66-year-old from Taiwan was unanimously backed by the AIBA's ruling Executive Committee to move for IOC Presidency at their recent meeting.

Wu is expected to make the announcement next Thursday (May 23) in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, because this is where he first became an IOC member back in 1988 following the recommendation of former President Juan Antonio Samaranch.

The announcement will see Wu follow Germany's Thomas Bach and Singapore's Ng Ser Miang in announcing his candidacy to replace Jacques Rogge, who steps down from the most powerful position in sport at the next IOC Session in Buenos Aires on September 10 this year.

Bach announced last week that he would be entering the race at a press conference in Frankfurt while Ng did the same at a press conference in Paris today.

The other candidates set to follow are Richard Carrión, head of the IOC's Finance and Audit Commissions from Puerto Rico, and Sergey Bubka, vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) from Ukraine.

Of the five likely candidates, Wu is the longest serving IOC member following his entry into the organisation 25 years ago.

A world-renowned architect by profession, Wu is particularly strong on his commitment to the cultural aspect of the Olympic Games and is a prominent member of the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Education.

That commitment was visibly demonstrated just last month when he unveiled the Samaranch Memorial in Tianjin in China to commemorate the memory and legacy of the former IOC President - with Wu himself conceiving, founding and designing the initiative.

Wu has informed Rogge in a letter that he will be standing for the position and has already completed his detailed manifesto, which will be sent out to every IOC member following the announcement.

Wu's influence in the IOC has dramatically increased in recent years, which was illustrated last year when he was elected onto the organisation's ruling Executive Board on the eve of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

He has also received huge plaudits since taking over as AIBA President in 2006, particularly for his role in spearheading the successful campaign to get women boxers competing at the Olympic Games.

Female fighters made their Olympic debut at London 2012, in what was widely seen as the best boxing competition in the history of the Games.

Should he be elected, he would become the first Asian and only the second non-European to lead the organisation after Avery Brundage of the United States, who was in charge from 1952 to 1972.

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