LONDON -- South Korea's Kim Un-yong blamed a "last-minute
smear" campaign for his defeat in the IOC presidential election,
accusing Juan Antonio Samaranch of using his influence to undermine
his bid.
Kim, who finished a distant second to Belgium's Jacques Rogge in
Monday's vote in Moscow, also claimed the result was engineered by
European members in order to retain their dominance of the
International Olympic Committee and deny an Asian the top job.
Kim cited allegations that Samaranch, the outgoing president,
"used his influence and IOC resources, against all rules of
fairness set forth by the IOC, to contrive at the election of
Jacques Rogge."
"The fact is until the last two days, the vote was to be very
close, probably in my favor," Kim said in a 1½-page statement
faxed Wednesday to The Associated Press.
"The distance between my final tally and what was certain 48
hours before the election draws to an unmistakable conclusion that
forces were at work to undermine a completely fair result. I leave
it to any fair-minded observer to draw his own conclusion."
Earlier, Kim made even stronger allegations in comments to South
Korean reporters.
"Samaranch systemically blocked my campaign," he was quoted by
South Korea's national news agency, Yonhap. "On the eve of the
election day, he leaked a groundless allegation against me. I felt
helpless because Samaranch lopsidedly supported Rogge to make him
president."
Kim's written statement also struck a conciliatory tone,
congratulating Rogge, pledging his support to the new president and
saying he would continue to serve on the IOC and other Olympic
organizations.
IOC director general Francois Carrard, who was faxed copies of
Kim's statements, said: "I don't want to make any comment on the
allegations. I can understand candidates who have been defeated can
have certain feelings."
"I do note that he has pledged his support to president Rogge
and his ongoing cooperation with the Olympic movement. That part of
the statement is very encouraging and positive."
Samaranch, who served as IOC president for 21 years, was
hospitalized in Lausanne, Switzerland, after returning from Moscow.
The IOC said he was suffering from "extreme fatigue" and would
remain hospitalized for several days.
Rogge was elected on the second of four possible secret ballots
with 59 votes. Kim received 23 votes, Canada's Dick Pound 22 and
Hungary's Pal Schmitt six. Anita DeFrantz of the United States was
eliminated on the first round.
Kim left the conference hall after the vote and refused to
attend the ceremony announcing Rogge's victory. In Wednesday's
statement, he said he withheld official comment until
"disappointment, and frankly a degree of bitterness over some of
the last-minute smearing tactics, could subside."
Kim portrayed the result as a defeat for Asia, Africa and Latin
America.
"The election and the tactics used to bring about the result
translates to a conclusion that the IOC continues to be a rich
man's club dominated by the Europeans," he said.
Kim noted that IOC members had suggested his presidential
chances had been hurt by the decision, three days earlier, to award
the 2008 Olympics to Beijing.
"The very inference that a Beijing victory could undermine the
candidacy of a fellow Asian translates to a conclusion that the
world's most populous continent can win only so much, and not
more," he said.
A day before the vote, it was reported that Kim had promised
members at least $50,000 a year in Olympic-related expenses if
elected. The IOC ethics commission dismissed the case after Kim
denied the reports, but the allegations were read out to the
members Monday before the vote.
Kim, who received a serious warning from the IOC in the Salt
Lake City bid scandal, described the disclosure as "a last-minute
smear" demonstrating "just how far certain forces within the
organization's Euro-bloc would go to maintain their hegemony."
At the same time, Kim said his supporters should "not despair
over the result."
Kim said he would retain his positions on the IOC and Korean
Olympic Committee and continue his leadership of the World
Taekwondo Federation and General Association of International
Sports Federations.
"My dedication to the IOC, world peace through sports and
education of youth, and to harmonious relations among peoples
remains undiminished," he said.
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