Saying there is “no comparison” in the scale of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Salt Lake City scandal and FIFA’s corruption crisis, IOC president Thomas Bach urged soccer’s governing body to take the “painful” steps needed to clean itself up and restore credibility to the organization.
Bach gave his most extensive comments to date on the bribery allegations engulfing FIFA, a far-reaching scandal that led Sepp Blatter to resign as president last week pending new elections.
Bach said FIFA should press ahead with reforms, citing the measures taken by the IOC to recover from the Salt Lake City crisis in the late 1990s.
Photo: AP
“It’s not up to the IOC to give advice, it’s just to remember that we had this kind of problems 15 years ago,” Bach said. “We also know from our experience that ... putting everything on the desk can be a painful experience, but it is absolutely necessary to do this as we have seen from our own history.”
Bach said the size of the FIFA scandal was much bigger than the case that led to the ouster of 10 IOC members for accepting improper inducements during Salt Lake City’s winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games.
In addition to kicking out members, Bach said, the IOC undertook structural reforms, including a ban on member visits to bid cities, creation of an ethics commission, introduction of term limits and inclusion of athlete members on the committee.
“We can only encourage FIFA to continue [with] the reforms which have been initiated,” Bach said. “We cannot give advice of what to do in detail, but we appreciate there is the readiness for reforms now and for substantial reforms.”
Blatter announced he was stepping down less than a week after seven officials were arrested in a dawn Swiss police raid on a Zurich hotel on corruption charges filed by the US Department of Justice. Blatter made the decision four days after winning re-election to a fifth term, saying he would lead reform efforts until new elections can be held.
Asked whether Blatter should step aside completely now, Bach said: “This is something that FIFA has to decide. FIFA is a federation of its own right and it is not for the IOC to interfere.”
Bach said the board moved forward with plans to set up a special “mourning place” in the Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro where athletes can remember family, friends and others who have died, including the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches slain at the 1972 Munich Games. The IOC also plans to hold a “moment of remembrance” during the closing ceremony of next year’s Olympic Games to honor those who have passed away.
Bach said a piece of stone taken from Ancient Olympia in Greece would be placed in the mourning area in the Rio athletes’ village, where an inauguration ceremony is to be held.
“It should not be just for a certain group, it should be for everybody,” Bach said.
Asked about the victims of the Munich killings, he said: “Of course, the 11 Israel athletes and the German policemen who died in this worst moment of Olympic history, the terrorist attack in Munich, they will be remembered, but there will also be others who will be remembered.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely