Scandal-hit NOC Chiefs Set to Attend London 2012; PyeongChang Venue Changes

(ATR) Around the Rings understands that it is highly unlikely any National Olympic Committee leaders embroiled in the London 2012 ticketing scandal will be dealt with before the Games - even though the IOC's ethics panel has begun its investigation.

The IOC is keen to complete the ethics probe before the July 27 opening of the Games. But the process, which includes a review of the evidence from the Sunday Times' sting operation - some 20 hours of video and transcripts - and hearings for those alleged to have broken rules, is not expected to be complete by then.

While the process is underway, IOC Ethics Commission head Pâquerette Girard Zappelli is also still awaiting some key documents from the Sunday Times, which will drag the process out further

Anyone charged with improper conduct following the investigation would be granted a hearing before the IOC Executive Board before any sanctions could be meted out.

It means that interim sanctions previously thought possible before the Games may not now be used, allowing some of the accused NOC leaders to attend London 2012. The IOC Executive Board has the power to suspend individuals while the ethics inquiry is underway or bar individuals from receiving credentials for the Olympics.

The Sunday Times report of two-and-a-half weeks ago suggested 54 NOCs might be caught up in the scandal. But ATR has since learned that only a handful may be serious enough to draw major sanctions. However, others are likely to face less serious punishments.

The newspaper alleged that 27 Olympic officials and ticketing agents had offered to sell London Olympic tickets on the black market for as much as 10 times their face value.

Bosnia, China, Greece, Israel, Lithuania, Malta and Serbia were among the NOCs named in the June 17 report. Hellenic Olympic Committee president Spyros Capralos was quoted from a secretly recorded video boasting of his inside connection to London 2012 chair Sebastian Coe, a connection he said would help Greece secure more high-demand tickets. LOCOG issued a statement confirming there were no special ticket deals for Greece.

The Serbian and Bosnian NOCs denied any wrongdoing in comments made to ATR days after the scandal broke. The Hellenic Olympic Committee issued a statement at the time defending Capralos and said its own Olympics ticketing sales were "totally transparent and in accordance with the laws of the Greek State".

Major Venue Changes for PyeongChang 2018

Organizers of the Korean Winter Olympics have announced a series of venue changes theysay will "add to the compact nature and festive mood of the Games". The plans were announced as PyeongChang 2018 marked the one-year anniversary since winning hosting rights.

Improvements to the venue masterplan follow IOC experts' advice, input from the International Federations and other stakeholders. "The adjustments are inevitable in order to deliver the athlete- and Games-oriented concept that we had promised in the bid," said POCOG President Jin Sun Kim.

One major change is the relocation of the opening and closing ceremonies site from the ski jumping venue in the Alpensia ski resort to Hoenggae, two kilometers away.

POCOG said the change in venue was necessary after it became clear, following a detailed venue analysis, that there could be accessibility and weather-related issues in the original location.

The new site is where the national team regularly trains and will be specially converted into a festive hub during Games time. Measuring 80,000 sq. m, it will include a temporary 50,000-seat stadium, medal plaza, an Olympic exhibition hall and other attractions.

Other venue improvements have been made to the speed skating and ice hockey II venues, as well as the Olympic Station. POCOG confirmed that the sites for the downhill events, ice hockey I and snowboarding are now approved following detailed reviews.

POCOG chiefs also spelled out their achievements since the Durban IOC Session following the organization's general assembly Wednesday. The official website for the Games was launched today - www.pyeongchang2018.org.

"Since bringing the Winter Games to Korea last year, we have laid the foundations and the road map for the successful hosting of the Games in accordance with our vision of transforming Gangwon Province into a winter tourism hub in East Asia," said Kim.

"In the past year, the PyeongChang organizing committee has been established, a special act was approved to support preparation works, the ground for the Wonju-PyeongChang-Gangneung high-speed rail link was broken, and the designing of the competition venues has begun," he added.

POCOG also outlined its future plans on the Olympics project. Of the 13 competition venues, seven already exist and six will be newly constructed. A budget of $17.3 million has been set aside this year for design works. Construction is expected to be completed by October 2016.

Construction and upgrading of the transportation infrastructure is already underway. A budget of $4.1 billion has been allocated for 14 projects, including upgrading of the rail link between Incheon International Airport and Gangneung.

POCOG is also currently developing its Games Foundation Plan, which along with the Master Schedule and Marketing Plan Agreement, are expected to be submitted to the IOC before the end of this year. PyeongChang 2018's new logo and slogan will be unveiled in 2013.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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