Andre Guelfi, an 82-year old French businessman suspected of involvement in a huge corruption scandal at oil company Elf, claims he made Paris lose its bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games to spite France’s President Jacques Chirac.
Guelfi, a millionaire, told Canal Plus television he had asked 20 friends “who were going to vote for Paris to vote for Beijing”.
Claude Bebear, chairman of the Paris’ 2008 bid, confirmed Guelfi’s claim and said IOC member Jean-Claude Killy, had tried in vain to stop Guelfi’s ploy.
IOC President Jacques Rogge, said he doesn’t believe Guelfi and is asking for proof. He said Beijing won on its merits by a wide margin.
But if the charges are true, Rogge said the ethics commission of the CIO (National Careers Guidance Centre) would investigate.
