The Associated Press reports that Italian police inspected documents at the headquarters of the organizing committee of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games Thursday as part of an investigation into possible financial irregularities.
Investigators said they examined documents regarding TOROC’s bookkeeping, but confirmed that for now there was no accusation of any criminal offence.
Police also inspected documents at the Rome offices of Italy’s national Olympic committee as well as at its regional office in Turin.
Valentino Castellani, head of the Turin 2006 organizing committee, said TOROC has acted “in full observance of the law” and was not being accused of wrongdoing.
Both police and Castellani said the action stemmed from weeks of reports about alleged financial irregularities. Castellani said the police reviewed and photocopied TOROC documents.
Meanwhile, Turin 2006 has postponed until December 21 approval of the Olympics’ provision budget, but no reason was given for the postponement. Officials did say that Turin’s financing was contingent on funds included in Italy’s national budget, which still requires parliamentary approval. Italy’s 2005 budget has been delayed in a dispute over tax cuts.
The Turin 2006 Games face a $242 million budget shortfall, reports the Associated Press and Castellani has said he expects the government to cover the gap by the end of the year. He is to appear Thursday before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board in Lausanne Switzerland.
Also, Turin 2006’s new merchandising campaign started the beginning of November. Items for sale include clothing, mountain and trekking accessories, puzzles, glasses, pens, pencils and pins.
