IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch has "launched an
investigation" into allegations that relatives of IOC board
members received scholarship aid from the Salt Lake City
Olympic bid committee, according to Mike Gorrell of the SALT
LAKE TRIBUNE. The SLOC "acknowledged" that "boosters of the
city's Olympic candidacy provided financial assistance to
relatives of IOC members voting on the 2002 Winter Games
site." IOC Exec board member and head of the IOC's UT
Coordination Committee Marc Hodler believes "the offense
probably does not warrant taking the games away" from Salt
Lake City mainly because "no other city is prepared to take
on such an undertaking with just three years to go" (SALT
LAKE TRIBUNE, 12/11). SLOC admits to giving money from a
"privately financed $500,000 fund for humanitarian aid" to
13 individuals, six of whom were "direct relatives" of IOC
members. The money was used for "scholarships/athletic
assistance." Former SLOC President Tom Welch concurs that a
fund to "help members of the Olympic family" was a "common
practice for bidding cities." SLOC President Frank Joklik
has "refused to identify" some of "the recipients" of the
financial aid or name the IOC members who participated. IOC
board members are "prohibited" from receiving any gifts
valued at "more than $100" (Mike Dodd, USA TODAY, 12/11).
CHANGES AHEAD? Hodler has proposed some changes to the
IOC policies. Hodler: "I will propose ... the Games will be
awarded by the (11-member) executive board of the IOC,
together with the international federations." In addition,
Hodler suggested that "any IOC member who has received
favors will be expelled" (USA TODAY, 12/11). Thomas Bach,
who chaired the 2002 selection board: "It's an embarrassing
issue and should be clarified" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 12/11).
