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Samaranch staying IOC chief denies rift with Pound, rumor of early retirement
Posted: Monday May 31, 1999 08:59 PM
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch on Monday dismissed continuing speculation that he might retire early, insisting he will complete the remaining two years of his term. Samaranch downplayed any rift with IOC Vice President Dick Pound, who caused a stir last month by suggesting that Samaranch might step down after ushering in a series of reforms at the end of this year. The 78-year-old Spaniard cited the massive vote of confidence -- 86-2 -- he won in a secret ballot in March during a special session dealing with the Salt Lake City bribery scandal. "My position depends on the IOC members," Samaranch said in an interview Monday with The Associated Press. "The secret ballot we had in Lausanne was very clear. The IOC members think I am the right man at this moment to lead the changes we need in the IOC. With the confidence of the IOC members, I am ready to finish my mandate." Samaranch, who has been in office since 1980, was re-elected to his latest four-year term in 1997. His successor is scheduled to be chosen at the IOC session in Moscow in September 2001. "I am elected until 2001," Samaranch said. "My mandate belongs to the IOC. My position is very clear: I will fulfill my mandate." Pound, considered a leading presidential contender, was quoted in an Australian newspaper interview last month as saying Samaranch might leave once the IOC has adopted its post-scandal reform package. Samaranch plans to call a special general assembly in December to approve changes in the structure and operations of the IOC. A special IOC commission is holding its first meeting in Lausanne this week to study the reforms. Pound, the IOC's chief negotiator of television and sponsorship deals, said Samaranch might set an example by stepping down if the session decides to lower the retirement age from the present 80 to as low as 70. Samaranch, who wrote to Pound expressing disappointment at his remarks, said Monday he held no ill feelings toward the Canadian. "I can't judge what he said or did not say," Samaranch said. "What I am judging with Dick Pound is our relations of 18-19 years. He is always working very close to me. I am giving him the most important responsibilities. Dick Pound was one who always defended me. I consider Dick Pound one of the most important members of the IOC." However, in an unusual public rebuke by a fellow executive board member, Kevan Gosper of Australia criticized Pound. "The public comments by Dick Pound were rather unfortunate to say the least," said Gosper, another presidential hopeful. "His postulation that Samaranch might go early was unwelcome. Samaranch's intentions are quite clear: he intends to see out his mandate. He has repeated that to me and I fully support that." Pound is not attending the IOC meetings in Lausanne this week because of commencement exercises at Montreal's McGill University, where he holds a senior position. But in a telephone interview with the AP, Pound reiterated that Samaranch could decide to leave early -- no matter his public pronouncements. "Every term has its limits," Pound said. "But it's a term, not a sentence. If [Samaranch] were to decide sometime before the end of the term that he has done what he wants to do, he is free to make any decision he wants." In any case, Pound said it would be couter-productive for Samaranch to announce now if he did intend to step aside. "If I were in his position, whatever my thoughts, I would give no indication that I was going to do anything but stay until the end of the term," Pound said. "Otherwise, the issue shifts away from the reforms to other issues."
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