International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge told German radio that its possible that all nine applicants for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games could survive the short list on May 18.
He said the decision is based on technical information but said he hasn’t had time to study the documents yet, adding that the experts are now examining the mini bid books.
He said if nine cities provide good data, all nine will continue into the second round. If not, they will be eliminated. And if only two or three are considered to have good technical information the others will be cut.
Meanwhile, Rogge described the decision for the IOC to remove “all the rights, prerogatives and functions deriving from his IOC membership”, pending investigations by South Korean authorities and the IOC ethics commission as a “precautionary measure, not a sanction”.
He said, “the ethics commission considered that we needed to preserve the reputation of the International Olympic Committee”.
Kim is reportedly being held in state penitentiary pending a hearing. Rogge said, “the only thing I know is he is in detention. We will have to wait for the outcome of that. This is in the hands of South Korean Justice. As from the IOC point of view, he’s been temporarily deprived of his rights as a member, but he remains a member”.
If found guilty Kim cold face expulsion from the IOC which would require a two-thirds vote of the full IOC membership.
According to reports Kim’s election campaign for the IOC presidency is also being investigated.
