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DeFrantz will not meet with Coles IOC vice-president leaves Australian IOC member alone
Posted: Tuesday March 30, 1999 03:57 PM
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- International Olympic Committee vice-president Anita DeFrantz has ruled out meeting Australian IOC member Phil Coles during a visit to the 2000 Olympics host city this week. The American is in Sydney in her role as a member of the coordination committee which oversees the city's preparations for the 2000 Games. DeFrantz is also on the executive committee which will decide Coles' fate following claims by the Australian's ex-wife that he accepted expensive jewelry from a Greek businessman associated with Athens' failed bid to host the 1996 Olympics. While Sydney organizing committee chief executive Sandy Hollway said he hoped the air would be clear next month for a good run at the ticket launch in May, DeFrantz would not be drawn on how long it would take for the IOC executive committee to decide Coles' fate. "I would not have put a time frame on it," she said Tuesday. "We have to wait until we get the information that we need, and then it will be resolved." Coles, 67, has resisted pressure to resign from the IOC and SOCOG after getting a severe censure for accepting excessive hospitality from Salt Lake City's 2002 Winter Games bid. If expelled from the IOC, Coles would also lose his place on SOCOG. But Coles is expected back on duty at SOCOG when it meets Thursday. DeFrantz said a meeting with Coles was not on her agenda. "I will not be able to as I am a member of the executive board and his case is before us now," DeFrantz said. "The executive board has taken over the work of the ad hoc commission and the case is still open." DeFrantz will be studying Sydney's transport plan over the next week at the city's Easter show, held at the Olympic precinct of Homebush Bay.
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