A group opposed to Vancouver’s bid for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games has accused Gerhard Heiberg, chairman of the International Olympic Committee evaluation team that assessed the three 2010 bid cities, with conflict of interest.
The group says that Heiberg, who is also chairman of the IOC’s marketing commission, holds an important position with Aker Kvaerner, a Norwegian oil and gas company, that has dealings in British Columbia. Heiberg gave Vancouver the best overall review in the evaluation report of the three 2010 bid cities.
In a statement the opposition group said, “Gerhard Heiberg is not the Mr. Clean that he likes to present to the outside. He holds an important position at Aker Kvaerner. The economic interconnections and the conflicts of interest are a fact”.
Heiberg denied any wrongdoing. “They are saying that one way or the other I have a connection with a Norwegian company involved in British Columbia. My connection is almost zero. I make almost no money”.
He said he serves in an unpaid role on the company’s election committee which meets once a year.
He added, “this company does more business in Korea than in British Columbia and also does business in Austria”.
Heiberg said the allegations were part of an attempt to undermine his candidacy for the IOC vice-presidency. In an election Friday Heiberg will be running against South Korea’s Kim Un-yong.
Meanwhile, Paquerette Girard Zappelli, the IOC ethics commission’s top official, spoke with Heiberg and said she believed he had no case to answer.
“It could not be any conflict of interest. To have any conflict you have to have real decision-making power. I don’t think it’s the case. We have no official case or claim”.
