At their meeting in Mexico City, the International Olympic Committee voted to retain a ban on its members visiting candidate bid cities. Of the 118 members present, only 6 opposed the ban by a show of hands.
“It was the visit process that nearly brought us down in 1999, IOC Vice President Kevan Gosper of Australia told the members. “I would urge you not to step back into the past – the past that nearly killed us.”
The ban was originally put into effect by the IOC in 1999 following the Salt Lake City bid scandal where members received gifts in exchange for votes. At the meeting, IOC President Jacques Rogge told the members that the ban did not apply to visits that were not bid-related.
Critics have suggested that the ban on visits makes it difficult for lesser known cities to sell their bid. Members must base their decision on a report published by a small site evaluation team that conducts scheduled and structured visits.
As a result of the vote, the ban will now apply to the 2012 Summer Olympic bid.
