TV 'sting' has bid cities walking on eggshell
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-08-07 13:58

The plush carpets and marble floors of the International Olympic Committee hotel in the heart of downtown Athens have been transformed into eggshells for the five cities vying for the 2012 Games.

What was supposed to be the 'start' of the multi-million dollar chase for sports' most glittering prize has turned sour for London, Paris, New York, Madrid and Moscow following the BBC's Panorama television expose this week, alleging how IOC members' votes can be bought.

The IOC's ethics commission is investigating the claims and regardless of whether or not any IOC members are found guilty of either corruption or bringing the movement into disrepute, the programme brought back the nightmare of the Salt Lake City scandal.

The shame that saw ten IOC members expelled or forced to resign nearly brought the Olympic movement to its knees.

Five years later a BBC sting operation has raised the sceptre of another possible scandal waiting to tumble out of the cupboard.

IOC members who saw the programme watched in stunned disbelief when the director general of the Olympic Council of Asia, Muttaleb Ahmad told undercovers reporters using a hidden camera, that only 30 per cent of corrupt IOC members were caught in the Salt Lake City probe.

In the blink of a 60 minute television programme, the warm welcome expected by the five cities from the 124 IOC members installed in the Hilton Hotel, has turned decidedly chilly.

Once again, bid cities and the system of winning the Games threatens the IOC.

One senior IOC member admitted after watching the programme that he was not sure that he will even talk to members of the bid teams who are promoting the merits of their various cities with an aim to winning the right to host the Games when the IOC Session meets in Singapore next July to decide the victor.

"I am not sure if I would feel comfortable. This programme has left a bitter taste," he said.

It is all bad news for the bid cities.

London's bid team had nothing to do with the BBC programme or the fictitious company set up for the sting, but for IOC members, the name London is linked to the possible scandal.

Now bid leader Seb Coe and his team have the extra task of explaining the 'real' London.

But it is not just London with problems. Several IOC members admit that all the bid cities, at least in the short term, will be affected by the fall-out.

"Once again the bidding process threatens the movement. It should not be a surprise if members feel resentment," said one member.

The five cities are expected to immediately review plans to hold receptions in Athens as they campaign with the IOC members.

"I think it's fair to say we will be reviewing all our plans," admitted one bid official.

But the cities are quick to point out that they are fully following the rules of engagement set out by the ethics commission.

"There are no plans for our presence in Athens which in anyway breech the rules of the bidding regulations," said London bid spokesman Mike Lee.

"It is important for bid cities to be present in order to listen and learn and that is very much the approach we will be taking."

Paris, New York, Madrid and Moscow also insist that they have always followed the rules.

But they also know the atmosphere in Athens will be far from the one they expected.

If the eggshells awaiting them remain in place - they will have scored a moral victory if nothing else.

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