Did Rogge do a secret deal with the Chinese? It wouldn't surprise me, admits Pound

By Duncan Mackay

October 21 - Dick Pound (pictured), who was beaten by Jacques Rogge for the Presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2001, admitted today he would not be surprised if his rival cut a deal with the Chinese Government to help him get elected.

Yuan Weimin, former Chinese Sports Minister, has claimed in a new book that Rogge met with Chinese officials secretly on the eve of the vote for the 2008 Games and promised to deliver votes from European IOC members to ensure Beijing was chosen if China would use its influence to help him in the presidential election a few days later.

Rogge and the IOC have strongly denied the claims but Pound has given the claims credence in an interview published today in the Toronto Star.

The Canadian said: "The Chinese were trying to get the Games and they would be asking for support and if there was a way they could promise their support in the Presidential election for somebody who was prepared to work for them, that's not beyond the realm of possibility."

Beijing, who were bidding against Toronto, were the big favourites and were duly elected in the second round.

A few days later Rogge was elected to succeed Juan Antonio Samaranch as President of the IOC, beating South Korea's Kim Un-yong and Pound.

Rogge polled 59 votes compared to 23 for Kim and 22 for Pound.

Pound's response will be of huge embarrassment to Rogge, who had gone to great lengths after his election to rebuild relations with Pound, a former vice-president of the IOC and ex-chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Pound said: "As you can tell from the numbers I got, I was not part of any deals.

"What promises could have been made in the course of the campaign, I'm damned if I know."

Pound claimed the book must have been written with the endorsement of the Chinese Government, who would have vetted its contents and the release of the details have coincided with a visit of Rogge to China.

He said: "The guy was a Minister and I don't think someone can write something like that in China if the Government doesn't want you to.

"What their point is in having this thing released at a time when Rogge is [visiting China], I don't understand it."

The IOC were not immediately available for comment, although insidethegames did leave voice-messages and sent e-mails.