It seems that Lord Sebastian Coe, head of London’s bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, won’t be losing any sleep following the airing of the BBC Panorama documentary last week.
He said Wednesday night, “I am not going to start laying awake at night wondering what stories people are writing and what programs are being made. As far as we are concerned, there was an issue and we are dealing with it.
“It is big news now but nothing that happens on any one day is going to decide who hosts the 2012 Olympics, whether it is the best day or the worst”.
Coe’s fears may have been eased following reports that after about 50 members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) attended a special showing of the program, many agreed it was clear the London 2012 bid was not involved.
IOC member Austin Sealy from Barbados said he had no doubts that the members who saw the program could see London 2012 was not involved in any misdemeanour.
He said, “there were enough disclaimers. The members are more sensible than that.”
Veteran IOC member Walter Troger agreed saying, “all my colleagues will realize the program had nothing to do with London. This is good in a way for the IOC for cleaning up”.
Coe and other members of the London 2012 bid team were waiting to greet the IOC members who watched the program at the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens.
He said, “the one thing that will be clear to anyone who watched the film is that it was nothing to do with us. Once we knew the program was coming, hardly a day went by without us speaking to the IOC in one way or another.
He added, “some members of the IOC have said to me that while they wouldn’t have chosen for the issue to come out in this way, they are actually quite happy because the structures are now in place to deal with it”.
“We have until July next year to get out point across and that is what we will continue to do”, said Coe.
Meanwhile, IOC President Jacques Rogge told a press conference in Athens that he would take a definitive decision on the fate of Bulgaria’s suspended member in a few weeks and comment on Bulgaria’s bid for the 2014 Winter Games only after the commission delivers its ruling.
