By Duncan Mackay in Acapulco
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
October 26 – The cash for votes scandal that has rocked FIFA has showed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that they must not be complacent about corruption.
The current crisis at the world governing body – which has seen two members of the ruling Executive Committee, Nigeria’s Amos Adamu and Tahiti’s Reynald Temarii, suspended – has been compared to the Salt Lake City scandal in 1998 that forced the IOC to implement a series of measures to restore confidence in the bid process.
Jacques Rogge, the President of the IOC, revealed that he has been in touch with Sepp Blatter, the President of FIFA, who is also a member of the IOC over the scandal.
The crisis started when Sunday Times reporters posing as officials working to secure the United States the World Cup offered Adamu £500,000 ($800,000) to build pitches to help develop youth football in Nigeria and Temarii £1.5 million ($2.4 million) to finance a sports academy in Oceania.
“I’ve had a discussion with Mr Blatter,” said·Rogge, at the end of the IOC’s ruling Executive Board meeting here.
“He called me when the whole issue emerged and has kept me informed about what he has done.
“I encouraged him to do exactly what he has done and·clear out as much as possible.”
The Salt Lake City scandal involved allegations of bribery by the American city to win its bid to host the 2002 Games and led to 10 IOC members being expelled or resigning and another 10 receiving sanctions.
Among the controversial measures introduced were that IOC members were banned from visiting bidding cities.
Additionally new term and age limits were put into place for IOC membership, and·15 former Olympic athletes were added to the organisation.
“You know we have been through this with Salt Lake City,” said Rogge.·
“I think the IOC took the right conclusion·to something very unpleasant.
“I’m sure that the IOC came out of the situation with a much better and transparent organisation.”
But Rogge still refused to rule out the possibility of a similar scandal erupting again one day.
“I believe the rules we have put in place protect as much as possible,” he said.
“But you can never say never because cheating is·embedded in human nature.
“We are very·vigilant and have strict rules but you can never say never.”
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