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IOC Calls Nagano’s 1998 Olympic Bid “History”

International Olympic Committee (IOC) communications director Giselle Davies said in a statement Wednesday that “events of a decade ago are history, and the IOC has drawn a line under the past”, saying findings that an “illegitimate and excessive level of hospitality” handed out by Nagano in its successful bid for the 1998 Summer Olympic Games won’t be investigated.

“What matters is that today the IOC has the necessary measures and procedures in place to deal with any future unethical behaviour, as and when it might occur”, she said.

According to the findings of the Nagano Prefecture Investigation Group Report revealed Monday by the Deseret Morning News, more than $4.4 million was spent to entertain IOC members during the bid.

Also Nagano’s bid team gave out $544,000 in souvenirs.

In a close vote Nagano was awarded the 1998 Games over Salt Lake City.

Davies added, “the IOC has learned the lessons from past unethical behaviour surrounding the bidding process. It has made inquiries, taken sanctions and most importantly implemented a series of reforms that have led to an accountable and transparent bidding process”.

The newspaper reports the English abstract of the Nagano report did not include specific information about the gifts and entertainment, nor did it name any IOC members involved and Olympic observers have said it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the IOC to investigate.

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