Thursday, November 29, 2001
Toronto IOC 'office' story DOA
Many years ago, my first editor took me aside one day and said: "Baron, get it first, but first get it right."
I've never forgotten it and tried to conduct myself accordingly during my career. It came to mind the other day when I read a sports front page story of a local newspaper, proclaiming that the International Olympic Committee is about to open an office in Toronto.
I didn't want to believe it. I was well aware that the IOC is the world's wealthiest sports organization with millions, in fact billions of dollars, stashed in various bank vaults thanks to Canadian Dick Pound's clever negotiating tactics with various U.S. television networks.
But even so, it would have been rather ridiculous to open an office in far-flung Toronto when the IOC has a palace in Lausanne, Switzerland and a multimillion-dollar museum about a kilometre away. Besides, Dr. Jacques Rogge, the new IOC president, is much more frugal than his predecessor, Juan Antonio Samaranch ever was.
The story in the Toronto Star also implied that the Canadian Olympic Association would be involved in that "office" project, which seemed even more unlikely to me since the COA already has an office in Toronto, plus another one in Montreal and a third one in Ottawa!
I don't think there's another national Olympic organization in the world that has offices in three major cities of its respective country. But, then, one has to consider that the COA is rarely held accountable for its spending practices.
Just in case I miscalculated my evaluation of a possible IOC involvement in a Toronto office, rather than the IOC giving a licensing permit to a private company to flog Olympic rings and other paraphernalia before giving the IOC and COA a few bucks for the privilege, I decided to check with the man who should know -- Pound, an IOC member.
"There is no IOC office planned for Toronto," the Montreal lawyer said yesterday. "It's sort of an amusement park-type arrangement with interactive games and other items. However, it is separate from the IOC. The story in the Star is not even close to the facts.
"We have had a similar setup in Munich, Germany (not successful at all -- ed. note) and we may approve similar operations in Great Britain and in Australia. But forget about an IOC office in Toronto."
However, I will never forget what my first editor taught me. Maybe some young journalists ought to be guided by the same principle.
GROSSLY ABBREVIATED: Canadian figure skating has lost Donald McPherson, who won the world's singles championship in 1963 at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. McPherson died recently in Munich at age 55. He won the global title a year after Don Jackson skated to a gold medal in Prague. McPherson lived for the past two decades in Munich where he coached skaters of the Holiday On Ice shows ... Pound will be in Lausanne next week to meet with Rogge. After that he'll chair a meeting of the World Anti-Doping Agency, which will have its headquarters in Montreal starting next March. The meeting with Rogge will determine Pound's future role in the IOC hierarchy. Maple Leafs superstars of the 1960s will rendezvous Monday evening at the Royal York Hotel in aid of Campbell House. Red Kelly is the honorary chairman of the event, flanked by Senator Frank Mahovlich and Davey Keon as well as 14 other Leafs of the Stanley Cup-winning era. Brian McFarlane of Hockey Night in Canada fame is the master of ceremony. For tickets to this charity affair call (416) 597-0227. The evening is organized by the Toronto Maple Leaf Alumni ... The needy children of Variety Village appreciate the support of Sun readers who are contributing to our Christmas Fund. Among them is our personal good friend, former lieutenant-governor Lincoln Alexander, who sent along a cheque for $100, as well as Brian Farmer with $100; an anonymous group of people who enjoy reading The Sun's soccer coverage checked in with a $100 bill; former Toronto passport chief Don O'Connor added $25 and the voice of basketball and sports in general, Bruce Barker of Mojo radio, gave $20.
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