Sydney officials send IOC wakeup letter
Posted: Tuesday January 19, 1999 11:02 AM
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Australian Olympic officials sent a strongly worded message to the International Olympic Committee suggesting it clean up its act in the wake of corruption allegations.
IOC board member Kevan Gosper was told today to convey the message by Sydney 2000 officials concerned about bribery allegations surrounding Salt Lake City's successful bid for the 2002 Winter Games.
Before leaving for an IOC board meeting in Switzerland, Gosper met with Olympics Minister Michael Knight, also president of the Sydney Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games; committee chief executive Sandy Hollway; Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates; and vice president Phil Coles.
The Australian officials said it was "critical" that IOC delegates who behaved improperly be dismissed, that the entire site-bidding process be reformed and that "due diligence processes" consistent with business practices worldwide be introduced.
Gosper said Knight and Coates also made a special request to the IOC that it "quickly agree to our request last December that we make the host city agreement public."
Gosper said the officials agreed that the IOC must recover its image "so people can concentrate on the Sydney Games, which are important to us in Australia and important to the IOC itself and its image."
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