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China backs IOC investigation

Official wonders how Sydney won bid for 2000 Olympics

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Posted: Monday December 14, 1998 10:27 AM

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- A senior Chinese sports official on Monday welcomed investigations into allegations of misconduct within the International Olympic Committee and said he did not rule out that corruption played a part in Beijing's loss of the 2000 Olympics to Sydney.

Wu Shouzhang, a leader of China's delegation to the Asian Games, repeated Chinese claims that "non-sports factors," including U.S. criticism of China's human rights record, were partly to blame for Beijing losing the games to Sydney in a vote in 1993.

Asked whether corruption also was involved in Beijing's loss, Wu said, "It cannot be completely discounted."

But he added, "You also cannot say that this problem exists. There has to be a foundation." He also said China had not been involved in any corrupt acts.

Wu, secretary-general of the Chinese delegation, was speaking after a senior IOC executive board member, Marc Hodler, said over the weekend that four people -- including one IOC member -- were involved in vote-buying over the past 10 yeas.

Hodler cited supposed irregularities in the selections of at least four Olympic cities -- Atlanta; Nagano, Japan; Sydney, Australia; and Salt Lake City.

IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch said the allegations would be investigated by the special panel looking into alleged violations by the bid committee that won the 2002 Winter Games for Salt Lake City.

"We welcome investigation," said Wu. "We are resolutely opposed to corruption. We hope that the International Olympic Committee is clean."

Beijing city leaders have applied to the Chinese Olympic Committee for the right to bid for the 2008 Olympics. He Huixian, a spokeswoman for the committee, said China hoped that the race will be a "a friendly competition based on openness, equality and fairness."

 

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