John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance President David
D'Alessandro continued to be an outspoken critic of the
IOC's investigation into the increasing bribery scandal.
D'Alessandro wrote an op-ed in Sunday's N.Y. TIMES and also
spoke to the BOSTON GLOBE's Will McDonough on Saturday and
David Nyhan on Sunday. In Sunday's N.Y. TIMES, D'Alessandro
criticized the IOC for failing to investigate potential bid
improprieties around Sydney's bid for the 2000 Games. The
IOC "seems to be confused about the word bribery," as the
"behavior of the Sydney bid committee appears to fit this
definition pretty well." If the IOC does not "adopt radical
reforms" during a special session in March, "it will have
lost any remaining shred of credibility. ... If the I.O.C.
is incapable of making these changes, it is time for the
Olympic movement to look for new leadership, within the
I.O.C. or outside the organization" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/14).
Asked by David Nyhan why he went public in his criticism,
D'Alessandro said, "I did it because these guys lied to us.
Excuse me; we give you $100 million? And you lied to us?
And you continue to lie to us? ... They only pay attention
to public statements." D'Alessandro added that, "But what
has been remarkable to me is how badly [the IOC has] handled
it" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/14). D'Alessandro: "If [IOC President
Juan Antonio] Samaranch stays in office, then you will see
other companies who are Olympic sponsors ... start to pull
away" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/13).
