Bribery scandal could resurface: Samaranch

Sydney: Olympic chief Juan Antonio Samaranch admitted he fears that the biggest bribery scandal in Olympic history could blow up again during the Salt Lake City Winter Games in 2002.

Some 10 members have left the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the last two years after being accused of breaking rules on accepting giftsfrom Salt Lake when it was bidding for the Games.

The US Justice Department is still investigating the affair and a trial involving former bid chiefs is expected to take place in the run-up to the Games in February 2002.

Samaranch told a meeting of the IOC session that it was possible that documents about IOC members, presently in the hands of the US government, could be made public during the Games.

"During the Olympics documents can be published that will (cause) a lot of bad image not only for the IOC but also for the Games in Salt Lake City," the IOC president told US organisers of the Games who werepresenting a report to the session.

"I am very much worried that this problem goes on and on and will not be finished during the Games in Salt Lake City. That is my thinking and I think it is the thinking of the members of the International Olympic Committee."

Information about the Salt Lake bidding process first leaked out in late 1998 and the affair blew up into a huge scandal in December of that year when leading IOC member Marc Hodler made allegations of attempted favours-for-votes deals in the IOC decisions on the venues of Olympics.

The IOC took action against members found to have broken their rules on taking gifts and introduced reforms, including stopping members from visiting bidding cities.

It said it had "cleaned the house". But Salt Lake officials said there were still hundreds of boxes of files and thousands of pages relating to the bid so thescandal appears to be far from over.

Successor

Samaranch will no longer be the IOC president in 2002 since he plans to step down next year. But he has left what could be an explosive problem for his successor at the new chief's first Olympics in charge.

"We are a little worried that you said that there are thousands of boxes," Samaranch told Salt Lake organisers (SLOC). "I know very well that thesedocuments are not in your hands. They are in the hands of your government."

Samaranch said he wanted the IOC to be in a position to respond to allegations when documents were published and asked for help from SLOC.

SLOC chief Mitt Romney said he understood the sentiment and would try to meet the request. But he made it clear that SLOC remained committed toproviding information for the public domain which it is required to do under US law.

"The best way to get a scandal behind you is to open it up to public view," Romney said. "And we intend to release every bit of information as fast as we can."

Salt Lake struggled to attract sponsors when the scandal broke but organisers have since managed to attract 27 new backers in the last year.

"Fortunately after a few months of reflection, people in corporations and individuals in America recognised that the failings of a few people in suits had little to do with the Olympic movement and athletes," Romneysaid. "And sponsors have rushed to the Olympic brand. "

He said he believed the scandal would not take centre stage during the Sydney Olympics which open on Friday.

"When the sun rises over Sydney Games, the sun sets on Salt Lake's past. I do firmly believe that, " he said.

"The entire world's sentiments seek from being focused on suits and (seek to) begin to be focused on athletes."

(c) Reuters Limited.