The money given to relatives of IOC members that the
SLOC characterized as "scholarships" was listed in federal
tax returns as expenses "incurred in the bid committee's
core function -- pursuit of the Winter Games," according to
Mike Gorrell of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, who writes that IRS
forms "have a specific line" where scholarships "can be
accounted for." Listed expenditures on the three returns of
the SLOC bid committee ending in '94-95, the year UT was
awarded the 2002 Games, contains expenses covering
"International Olympic Fees" and "Protocol" worth $219,800
and $33,598, respectively. UT Sen. John Valentine: "The
instructions are pretty explicit. You should check 'yes' if
giving a scholarship rather than consolidating charitable
expenses under your core function" (S.L. TRIBUNE, 12/18).
UT industrialist Jon Huntsman, who severed his ties to the
SLOC bid committee after it failed to land the '98 Games,
said that the bid process was "out of control almost from
the very beginning." Huntsman: "We were sending out
reasonably inexperienced people with large amounts of cash
in their pocket to try to figure out ways to attract people
to Utah" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 12/18). Jack Kelly, consultant
to the Houston group seeking the 2012 Games: "When you've
lost by two votes (in the past), who wouldn't do what they
did?" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/18). Former SLOC President Tom
Welch said that visiting IOC members were given presents,
including Jazz tickets, in their successful attempt at
landing the Games. Longman also writes that "one issue
certain to be investigated" is the year-long employment of
Sibusiso Sibandze, son of Swaziland IOC member David
Sikhulumi Sibandze, at Salt Lake's City Hall in '93 and '94
(N.Y. TIMES, 12/18). Salt Lake Councilperson Deeda Seed:
"It's questionable. It sounds like a conflict of interest"
(S.L. TRIBUNE, 12/18). Though a "formal investigation has
not been launched," U.S. AG Janet Reno said that allegations
against the SLOC are "under review" (S.L. TRIBUNE, 12/18).
NAMING NAMES: In Toronto, Infantry & Starkman write
that IOC board member Marc Hodler "identified" souvenir
manufacturer Mahmoud El Farnawani, who has worked on four
winning Olympic bids, as "an agent who promises to deliver
votes" to bidding cities. El Farnawani was paid US$58,000
by SLOC as a marketing consultant from July '94 to June '95,
when UT was awarded the 2002 Games (TORONTO STAR, 12/18).
OLYMPIC NOTES: Paris announced that it will bid to host
the 2008 Summer Olympics, joining seven other cities seeking
the Games (AP, 12/18)....The Seattle Olympic Bid Committee
"withdrew its candidacy" for the 2012 Summer games due to
"lack of civic support" (AP, 12/18)....President of the
Swedish Bid Committee Christer Persson said that he wanted
Salt Lake City to "reimburse the expenses of their rival
cities if the group is penalized" by the IOC. Persson: "In
some ways, we spent our money in vain" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/18).
