Power of Caring
  presented by CIGNA

Coles says he won't quit SOCOG

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Saturday April 03, 1999 11:18 AM

Phil Coles: "I've been painted as some kind of traitor and they called me unpatriotic and disloyal." AP

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Australian IOC member Phil Coles admitted he acted "stupidly and naively" in his dealings with Salt Lake City but is determined to remain on the board organizing the 2000 Sydney Games.

Coles has been urged to quit the board of SOCOG and this week was sacked from his high-profile role as chief of the torch relay.

Coles was censured for receiving excessive hospitality from Salt Lake City's successful bid for the 2002 Winter Games, and is also under investigation by the IOC for allegedly receiving expensive jewelry from Athens' failed 1996 bid.

Coles attacked his critics, including SOCOG president Michael Knight.

"The orchestrated vendetta against my character by inside and outside the Olympic establishment has been particularly galling," Coles said.

"There have been times when I've come close to tears, but I have been reassured by hundreds of well-wishers that even a mug deserves a break.

"I don't think if I was a drug runner, child molester or murderer would I have got such a belting around the ears through the media."

Coles said there was no truth to the allegations that he received about $6,300 worth of jewelry from a Greek businessman.

"I've been painted as some kind of traitor and they called me unpatriotic and disloyal," Coles said.

"I may have acted stupidly and on occasions naively on my visits to Salt Lake City, but I'm not a criminal."

Coles has stood aside from the SOCOG board while the IOC investigates the jewelry claims, first raised by Coles' ex-wife Georgina Coles.

"There is not one ounce of truth in what I've been accused of, but unfortunately when you are in the public eye, some of this is going to stick," Coles said. "I don't know who is behind this business, but the campaign against me is very hurtful.

"The past few months have been one of the toughest and bleakest periods of my life."

 

Related information
Stories
SOCOG sacks Coles as torch relay chief Oldest Olympic champion visits Athens Samaranch declines Senate invitation Romney: 'No free tickets' for sponsors
Multimedia
Click here for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI.