WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Former Olympians Say Olympic Scandal Won't Affect Athletes (WTNH) _ Money, favors and gifts are rocking the reputation of the Olympic Games. It's the biggest corruption scandal in the games history with high-ranking officials getting the boot for falling victim to temptation. News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports. They are accused of accepting bribes in exchange for their votes to stage the games in Salt Lake City, Utah. The head of the I.O.C. promises to restore the credibility of the organization. We talked to former athletes and coaches from Connecticut to get their reaction on the influence of money on the Olympic games. Frank Keefe, 1984 Olympic Swim Coach: "It's something we knew and assumed was happening for years." Frank Keefe coached the swim team in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, the year everything changed. A year when big money corporate sponsors made the games profitable for both the host cities and some of the athletes. By the next Olympics, Keefe spent a lot more of his time dealing with agents. Keefe: "In Seoul, South Korea, when can Matt Biondi be let out of the village to make a personal appearance. It became the "I" in team which doesn't exist." If you think the competition is fierce among the athletes, the competition on the business side is just as fierce. The difference - athletes have a strict set of rules, the ICO is a secret society. Mike Vespoli, Former Olympian: "It does have a sense of secrecy. Don't know who's in it and how they get in it." Mike Vespoli rowed in '72. He now builds and sells racing shells. Vespoli believes the athletes can separate themselves from the scandal. Meanwhile, the IOC has to do some soul searching. Mike Vespoli, Former Olympian: "I think it's a necessary purging and cleaning. Out of this trauma a stronger organization will exist. "I don't really think it will affect the athletes. They will go there and win Olympic glory." Keefe and Vespoli make a distinct separation between the business side and the games themselves. The scandal reveals a seedy side to the whole bidding process, but the athletes don't care where they compete so long as the competition is fair and honest. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Former Olympians Say Olympic Scandal Won't Affect Athletes
(WTNH) _ Money, favors and gifts are rocking the reputation of the Olympic Games. It's the biggest corruption scandal in the games history with high-ranking officials getting the boot for falling victim to temptation.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.

They are accused of accepting bribes in exchange for their votes to stage the games in Salt Lake City, Utah. The head of the I.O.C. promises to restore the credibility of the organization. We talked to former athletes and coaches from Connecticut to get their reaction on the influence of money on the Olympic games.

Frank Keefe, 1984 Olympic Swim Coach: "It's something we knew and assumed was happening for years."

Frank Keefe coached the swim team in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, the year everything changed. A year when big money corporate sponsors made the games profitable for both the host cities and some of the athletes. By the next Olympics, Keefe spent a lot more of his time dealing with agents.

Keefe: "In Seoul, South Korea, when can Matt Biondi be let out of the village to make a personal appearance. It became the "I" in team which doesn't exist."

If you think the competition is fierce among the athletes, the competition on the business side is just as fierce. The difference - athletes have a strict set of rules, the ICO is a secret society.

Mike Vespoli, Former Olympian: "It does have a sense of secrecy. Don't know who's in it and how they get in it."

Mike Vespoli rowed in '72. He now builds and sells racing shells. Vespoli believes the athletes can separate themselves from the scandal. Meanwhile, the IOC has to do some soul searching.

Mike Vespoli, Former Olympian: "I think it's a necessary purging and cleaning. Out of this trauma a stronger organization will exist.
"I don't really think it will affect the athletes. They will go there and win Olympic glory."

Keefe and Vespoli make a distinct separation between the business side and the games themselves. The scandal reveals a seedy side to the whole bidding process, but the athletes don't care where they compete so long as the competition is fair and honest.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.