Swiss IOC veteran quietly savours reforms

One year ago, he was a virtual outcast of the International Olympic Committee: castigated for blowing the whistle on corruption in the world's most powerful sporting movement.

One year ago, he was a virtual outcast of the International Olympic Committee: castigated for blowing the whistle on corruption in the world’s most powerful sporting movement.

As the IOC acted to prevent future scandals with the most sweeping reforms in its history Sunday, Marc Hodler (picture, right) savoured the moment with modest satisfaction and quiet relief, if not quite outright glee.

“I think we did the right thing,” the 81-year-old Swiss lawyer said as he was mobbed by reporters in Lausanne’s exhibition center. “It’s a big step forward. I am optimistic that things will get better.”

Among the 50 reforms approved by the IOC session was a ban on visits by members to cities bidding to host the games — seen as the root cause of the Salt Lake City bribery scandal which plunged the IOC into its worst crisis.

“I am very satisfied and thankful that it went through so easily, ” said Hodler, adding he hadn’t expected the ban to be approved with so little resistance.

A year ago, after news of irregularities in the Salt Lake bid emerged, Hodler — a longtime member of the IOC’s inner circle –went public with allegations that corruption was rampant in the bidding process.

The initial reaction of the IOC executive board was to disassociate itself from Hodler’s charges and IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch was visibly angry with his long-time lieutenant.

“These have been the three worst days I have spent in my career in sports,” said Hodler after an explosive IOC executive board meeting at the time. “In times of crisis, you get to know who your friends are and who your enemies are.”

At a news conference Sunday, Samaranch stressed that he had always enjoyed close relations with Hodler, who was a “very well respected member of the IOC.”

Hodler remains an IOC executive board member, and chairman of the finance commission and of the coordination committee for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

But he is no longer regarded as part of the powerful elite that forms Olympic policy. He was conspicuously left off the reform commissions set up following the Salt Lake City crisis.

Although he clearly relished the media attention at the end of the meeting, he said nothing during the weekend debate in the assembly.

The former ski federation boss has never been completely forgiven by some IOC members for provoking the scandal and disrupting their world.

A backlash against Hodler was held partly to blame for the Swiss city of Sion unexpectedly losing out to Turin for the 2006 Winter Games last June, despite being the overwhelming favorite on technical and sporting merits.

Hodler was asked if he had ever felt any regrets for the turmoil he unleashed.

“No, never,” he replied simply.

He said he was confident that the IOC had put the Salt Lake City scandal behind it – but stressed that no system was foolproof.

“No matter which country you are from, there are always a lot of thieves in jail. But you can’t guarantee that there won’t be thefts in future,” he said. “Human beings can not be calculated in advance. We have to find out afterwards.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.