posted Apr 22, 2010

They say that Samaranch destroyed the Olympic ideal. In other words, he did away with all the sentimental tosh and bosh; the Olympic movement thrives without it.

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posted Apr 22, 2010

Samaranch was not Spanish; he was Catalonian.

And his name, BBC, is not pronocunced SamaranCH, but SamaranK

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posted Apr 22, 2010

I think he and a few other members of the IOC under his stewardship did okay out of the slush funds they encouraged from Olympic bidders.

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posted Apr 22, 2010

Not specifically about Samaranch, but do any of these IOC jobsworths and their national counterparts pass the 'Tony Benn test' of democracy? No they don't. The Benn test, roughly, is (a) Who elects them? and (b) Can they be voted out? Participation is cloaked in secrecy and smog - they are unelected, self-perpetuating and unaccountable. Why do we (or our elected representatives) allow this? Simple - money. Throw enough millions at a government, you can get away with anything. And just look at how rich some of the 'big names' associated with London 2012 are rumoured to be getting.

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posted Apr 22, 2010

He was very much against Richard (Dick) Pound, the Canadian IOC Vice President, from succeeding him to the Presidency. Dick Pound was, and still is, very much against the use of performance enhancing drugs being taken by amateur athletes. He is currently the head of WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) that is in charge of drug tests for Olympic athletes.

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posted Apr 23, 2010

Dear Citizen canada
Why "against drugs taken by amateur athletes"?
Why not all athletes?
Of course the football authorities like Lennart Johansson (former corrupt head of UEFA and pal of Juan) have more or less thrown in the towel against drugs; they ignored Russia cheating in qualfiying for Euro finals anf Sheffield uniteds drug taking at the beginning of this season.

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posted Apr 23, 2010

The IOC forces body exercises and recreation activities into extreme competitions. Many of the athletes abuse steroids because the IOC insists on cut throat tactics in the games. How far will they go to turn a good profit from the advertisors of products?

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posted Apr 23, 2010

ha was a lot corrupt. made himself to be above anyone else. shame he was,nt pulled up for all is corruption, he now gets away with all the underhanded dealings he did. no great loss to anyone

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posted Apr 23, 2010

An exemplary organiser who blazed a trail and who did the Olympic movement proud. His successor Jacques Rogge is following his footsteps so very closely. May the Olympic spirit grow from strength to strength

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