IOC's corruption whistleblower Hodler dies at

ATHENS, Oct 18 (Reuters) Senior International Olympic Committee member Marc Hodler, who helped uncover the IOC's biggest corruption scandal, involving Salt Lake City and how it bribed members to win the 2002 Winter Olympics bid, has died in Switzerland, the IOC said today.

He was 87.

Hodler was the main whistleblower in the biggest corruption and bribery affair in the IOC' s 110-year history involving several of its members and Salt Lake City officials.

The accusations centred around lavish gifts to IOC members in return for their votes.

Salt Lake City crushed Switzerland's Sion in the final round of voting.

''The IOC expresses its sadness at the passing of a member who dedicated so much to the Olympic movement. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr Hodler's family,'' IOC president Jacques Rogge said in a statement which made no mention of the 2002 Salt Lake City affair.

Hodler, who headed the International Ski Federation from 1951-1998, had been an IOC member since 1963 and had served four terms on its executive board.

REUTERS AY BST2034