Olympic games tainted
Mike Kostoff

The Olympics: the bastion of pure competition. It’s hard not to say that and chuckle these days, with the entire Olympic bid process finally revealed to be the sham it is.

No big surprise, right? But what really steams my windshield is that, since this scandal surfaced late last year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has failed on every level to restore faith (assuming there ever was any) in the Olympic movement.

It is with this in mind that I am forced to declare the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Toronto, Canada, a big mistake.

David Crombie, chair of the Toronto Olympic bid, promised to consider pulling the Toronto bid if he felt that pledges made by the IOC to clean up the bidding process were not fulfilled. However, he called the recent recommendations made by an IOC review board "a good start," adding, "if you want to fight for Olympic ideals, (the Toronto bid) is the way to do it."

Well folks, if you believe that twisted piece of logic, then I have some Golden Hawk basketball playoff tickets to sell you.

IOC vice-president Dick Pound’s report recommends the expulsion of six members for the "marginal" offense of accepting gifts for themselves and members of their family in exchange for votes. This represents merely a surface solution to a corruption epidemic that runs much deeper then these six members who happened to be caught.

IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch’s refusal to resign in light of this scandal is laughable. This is the same Samaranch who bullied (bribed?) IOC members to vote to extend the age for mandatory retirement from 75 to 80, allowing him to stay on until 2001. How can a solution to a sweeping scandal like this not include the elimination of the guy at the top?

Another disturbing part of this ordeal is that Pound, the person charged with the faith and responsibility of heading up the committee investigating the scandal, claims he was once offered a $1 million bribe, but has declined to name who was involved. Given his position, Pound is obliged to name names. His failure in this matter further calls into question the legitimacy of the process.

In light of this debacle, the enthusiasm of corporate sponsors to remain involved in the Olympic games is certainly in question. Already, Coca Cola Limited and McDonalds Restaurants, just to name a few, have raised concerns about commitments to being involved in future games.

While no criminal charges have yet been laid (the IOC has been quick to say that only "marginal", not criminal offences have taken place), an investigation into events surrounding the Salt Lake City bid for the 2002 games could yield criminal charges.

Perhaps with someone other than the IOC investigating the IOC, a more acceptable solution will be reached. Until then, Toronto should concern itself with acquiring more deserving international events.