June 14, 1999
Australian Phil Coles survives the olympic scandal, just barely.
The Australian delegate to the International Olympic Committe was under
investigatin for releasing personal files on I.O.C. members, but by
resigning from the Sydney Organizing Committee and submitting to a strict
reprimand, managed to retain his seat at the I.O.C.
The decision from the I.O.C. executive board makes Coles, a three time
olympian himself, a second-class member of the I.O.C.
Francoise Carrard, the IOC director general says, "I can tell you the
following. The executive board has unanimously
taken the following decision concerning the case of Mr. Coles.
One is to maintain the most severe warning given to Mr. Coles.
Two, to add a reprimand to this warning for serious negligence.
Three, to propose that the IOC president does not appoint
Mr. Coles as a member of any IOC commission or working group
for a period of two years."
Coles already had a warning on his record for accepting free skiing
vacations from Salt Lake City olympic organizers. But the executive
board decided that while the latest charges showed negligence, Coles was
not guilty of corruption.
For his part, Coles told reporters he hoped the ordeal can now be
laid to rest, so he can focus on doing what he can to help the
olympics.
Coles says, "I'm glad that it's over, and I propose to just look forward
and not go backwards, and anything I can do to help the
Olympic Games in Sydney."
