IOC Clears Vancouver Bid Leader

at the Main Press Centre during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on February 12, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada.

(ATR) The IOC says John Furlong did nothing wrong as leader of the Vancouver 2010 Winter bid when he proposed to help Moscow's bid for the 2012 Olympics.

In his recently-published memoir "Patriot Hearts", Furlong describes a scene in 2003 when he made a deal with the former mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov, where Furlong, then bid chief, cut a deal to help Moscow’s bid for the 2012 Olympics, in exchange for helping Vancouver win the 2010 Games.

The revelation prompted an inquiry from the IOC asking Furlong to explain further, which he did last month.

In a statement released Saturday, the IOC says: "There is no evidence of wrongdoing".

Because no IOC members were involved, Furlong is off the hook says the IOC.

"In the case of discussion with the Russian mayor, the CEO of the Canadian bid met with the mayor of Moscow and as far as he is not an IOC member there is no concern. John has confirmed to us in writing that no IOC member was involved in any unauthorized discussion."

Bidding rules, established by the IOC state that "no promise of any kind of advantage may be made" while bidding.

Some issues still remain, including his allegations that "hostesses" working for the Korean bid of PyeongChang may have swayed IOC votes.

"We have sought clarification from John who has confirmed that no IOC members were involved. Of course, should someone else be able to bring us credible and more detailed evidence we will of course take action."

Vancouver defeated PyeongChang and Salzburg, Austria for the right to stage the 2010 Olympics.

Homepage photo from Getty Images.

Written by Ed Hula III.

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