The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ethics commission summoned the leaders of the five cities vying for the 2012 Olympics on Tuesday to examine whether any of them have broken bidding rules by offering financial and other incentives.
The move came after New York and London — in a bid to woo votes in the final stretch of the campaign — promised subsidies, free marketing and other benefits to international sports federations and national Olympic committees.
IOC spokesperson Giselle Davies said the ethics panel is trying to determine whether the proposals went beyond what the cities listed in their official bid documents in November.
”The ethics commission is taking a look, so we can have the matters clarified as quickly as possible,” she said.
London and New York are competing against Paris, Madrid and Moscow. The IOC will select the host city in Singapore on July 6.
The five bid chiefs were called into separate meetings with French magistrate Paquerette Girard-Zappelli, the IOC ethics official who monitors compliance with bid rules. The panel has the power to recommend warnings or sanctions.
”She’s looking at it as a day-to-day issue to clarify,” Davies said. ”We’re not talking about an investigation at this stage.”
Girard-Zappelli declined to comment. Holding her fingers to her lips, she said: ”I am mute.”
New York and London bid officials said their proposals were included in their bid documents.
IOC ethics rules have been tightened since the Salt Lake City bid scandal, which led to the ouster of 10 IOC members for accepting cash, scholarships, lavish gifts and other improper benefits.
Tuesday’s inquiry came a day after London announced a package of more than $20-million in assistance to athletes and Olympic committees, including $50 000 ”credits” to each national Olympic body toward the cost of using pre-Games training facilities in Britain.
London said it also budgeted $10-million to cover flexible, round-trip economy air fares for all 10 500 athletes and several thousand team officials. Other perks include $100-worth of free phone calls for athletes; free train travel throughout Britain after the Games; and discounts at restaurants, shops and theatres.
On Sunday, New York promised to market each of the 28 Olympic sports for free in the seven-year period leading to the Games.
Federations would get free office space, with computers, phones and staff.
”Our proposal for the Olympic Sports Marketing Council was included in our bid book,” New York bid leader Dan Doctoroff said on Tuesday before flying back to the United States.
London also offered special hotel rates, price discounts and television exposure to the federations. A technical delegate from each federation would be given free accommodation and living expenses to stay in London for up to a year to oversee preparations for the Games.
London bid spokesperson Mike Lee said the subsidies were covered in the city’s proposed £1,5-billion operating budget.
”I’m sure the candidate cities will be happy with clarification,” he said. ”We’re very comfortable with our proposals.” — Sapa-AP