Marc Hodler
Whistleblower - 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics
2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics
The actual location
Marc Hodler
The whistleblower who had a major role in exposing the 2002 bribery scandal
Salt Lake City - the BIG picture
The Facts - Marc Hodler's Role
Proof
Hodler v. Samaranch
- Hodler began with, "There has always been a certain part of the vote given to corruption"-for this, the following cities associated with his claim:
- Atlanta, GA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Sydney, Australia (host of the 2002 Summer Olympics)
- Nagano (host of the 1998 Winter Olympics)
~Hodler believed that based on his claim and research that an estimate of between 5%-7% of the 115 IOC members were open to the gifts of bribery.
Samaranch's response: He distanced himself from Hodler and instructed Hodler to hakt further interviews to the press. Hodler responded with, "Perhaps I'll be thrown out" - Hodler took the nonchalant approach
- This dispute led to confirmation that indeed the IOC was concerned with certain agents and promised an internal investigation, thus resulting in Samaranch backtracking
- Samaranch admitted to receiving hefty bribes from Salt Lake City, but refuted with the concept that it was only illegal if performed by voting members; he was president, therefore he could not vote and was indeed legal.
*This sort of dispute is one of many that Hodler dealt with in exposing the truths about the 2002 bribery scandal.
In Reality...
- Canada demanded that they be refunded for their money on the bid, but such thing did not occur.
- Sion, a picturesque scene for the winter olympics, also lost to Salt Lake City, thus infuriating the Swedish (Hodler being a "cheerleader" for this city in favor of the winter games)
Results
- Frank Joklik, president of the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee (SLOC) resigned (willingly) after acknowledging cash bribes to the IOC for the 1995 Olympic vote.
- Salt Lake City Mayor Deedee Corradini (unexpectedly) did not seek reelection in 2002 as a result of the bribery scandal. Though she denies that she had anything to do with the scandal, the Salt Lake City council members investigated and requested for her resignation anyway.
- Senior Vice President Dave Johnson resigned as well. Along with his resignation, a $10k-a-month consulting contract with former president Tom Welch ended by SLOC
Salt Lake City, despite the bribery scandal and conflicts, pulled through to become the location of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
- At the time that Hodler blew the whistle on the bribery scandal, SLOC had already raised approximately 75% of the money needed to run the 2002 Winter Olympics, thus maintaining their vote from IOC for the winter olympics
- HOWEVER, companies (such as Coca-Cola) that sponsored the SLOC for their olympics started to withdraw money amounts as they were concerned over the idea of sponsoring a city that cheated/bribed the IOC. Some companies even backed out of sponsoring the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
Marc Hodler - Through the years until the End
- Marc Hodler ran a very successful career as a lawyer and ran his own firm.
- He was appointed to the IOC in 1963, serving four terms on executive board
- 1993-1997, Hodler was vice-president of the IOC
- 1998-2002 he was chairman of the IOC's finance commission
- from 1952-1988, Hodler was the president of the Swiss Bridge Federation; Hodler was indeed a very keen bridge player
- Marc Hodler had a wife, Anna Rosa, and two sons
- Hodler died had age 87 on October 18, 2006 from a stroke
My Reaction
Citations
http://www.dosb.de/typo3temp/pics/600a649e5a.jpg
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/1999/01/olym-j13.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1531772/Marc-Hodler.html
http://travel.utah.gov/photos/images/2002_Winter_Olympics.jpg
http://uptownembroidery.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/2002-Winter-Olympics.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Hodler