IOC Chief Avoids Dubai Olympic Bid Blessing; Explains Fasel Sanction

(ATR) IOC President Jacques Rogge stops way short of endorsing a bid from Dubai for the Olympics and explains why IOC member Rene Fasel escaped serious punishment for an ethics breach.

Rogge wrapped up the work of a three-day meeting of the IOC Executive Board, which met this week for the first time in Dubai. The 11-minute press conference was one of his shortest for an EB.

Dubai Olympic Bid Downplayed

Rogge grew impatient over repeated questions from Dubai journalists about the suitability of Dubai or other cities in the Middle East as Olympic hosts.

"My response is very simple," he said to the first query.

"Dubai is examining whether it has the capability of organizing the Olympic Games. There is no formal candidature at this stage. There is a study ongoing in which the IOC is participating and the IOC is helping the Dubai sports authorities to look at the possibility of launching a bid."

On the second question, Rogge said any bid would be judged on its merits, but he had not yet seen a file or strategy because it is not ready.

Pressed on weather as a factor, Rogge joked that it was too hot in Vancouver, and the Gulf countries are hot as well, which would be a factor in hosting Winter Games.

Forced to return to the subject again, he said that the IOC has no automatic rotation of continents or subcontinents. Although Rio 2016 will be held a new region, the decision was based on quality, not geography.

Growing testy when the final question of the press conference was again about Dubai, he said, "I want first to see a file, descriptions, facts, projects, strategy and there's nothing of that on paper today, so it's a bit premature."

Fasel Ethics Decision

Rogge defended the decision by the Executive Board to reprimand International Ice Hockey Federation chief Rene Fasel for a conflict of interest over broadcasting rights without stripping him of his IOC posts.

Previous IOC members who have faced punishment have not been allowed to serve on commissions for five years, for example.

Rogge said the EB upheld the proposal of the ethics commission, which he said was "very clear Mr. Fasel did not commit financial irregularities, but Mr. Fasel made the mistake of supporting a personal friend in having a contract with the broadcasting company."

Rogge said the Deloitte and Touche report was very clear that Fasel did not benefit personally.

"However, he has tarnished the reputation of the IOC and therefore he has got a reprimand."

Athletes Face Bans for Drugs

Two athletes received sterner punishments.

Besides the Chinese gymnast who was disqualified from the 2000 Sydney Olympics for being underage, the Executive Board also sanctioned Polish cross-country skier Kornelia Malek, who tested positive for recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) after placing sixth in Vancouver.

If the decision is upheld by FIS, Malek would miss the Sochi Games.

IOC Finances in Surplus, Other Business

Also during its session, the EB examined the IOC finances for the year 2009 andRogge announced a surplus of $446 million.

Gilbert Felli, the IOC Olympic Games Executive Director, said the IOC met with its insurance brokers this week to make sure that it is fully covered in the event of a disaster like the Iceland volcano, which halted air travel for several days.

"It's difficult to imagine what exactly is the worst case," Felli said.

"We try to understand that we are correctly insured and not doubly insured."

Rogge said he believed the most interesting part of the agenda was the qualification criteria for the 2012 London Olympics, though they do not differ too much from their counterparts in Beijing and Athens.

The organizing committees from Singapore, London and Sochi gave reports, and Rogge said he was pleased with the preparations.

The Executive Board will continue its meeting Friday by going over 22 resolutions of recommendations that came out of the 2009 Olympic Congress in Copenhagen, but Rogge will not address the media again.

Praise for SportAccord

Rogge commended the executive committee of SportAccord and president Hein Verbruggen for their organization of the eighth annual event for a "job well done."

Since it began in Madrid, Rogge said, "I see a sea change in scope and quality and something very useful for international federations and for the sport industry as a whole."

He said the IOC showed its direct support and confidence in SportAccord by holding its EB meeting in conjunction with the event.

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Written by Karen Rosen in Dubai.