International Olympic Committee

Howard Berkes in front of the Olympic Museum, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Photo: Ed Hula

The Story

On December 9th, 1998, All Things Considered featured Senior Correspondent Howard Berkes' report about an interview with Marc Hodler, the 2nd most senior member of the International Olympic Committee. In that interview, Hodler characterized as bribery the attempts by Olympic bidders in Salt Lake City to win the support of IOC members. That interview, and even more dramatic remarks Hodler made later, triggered the IOC's worst ethics crisis ever.

Ten IOC members resigned or quit. Ten others were reprimanded. Fund-raising for the Olympics stalled as corporate sponsors became skittish about the value of the Olympic "brand." Congress launched three investigations. The Justice Department convened a federal grand jury. And many wondered about the fairness of the competitions to host the Olympics.

One year later, in December, 1999, IOC members gather in the Olympic capital of Lausanne, Switzerland, to consider dramatic reforms and to try to put the scandal behind them. Howard Berkes was also there. Listen below to his reports on All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition.

December 9, 1999 -- Howard Berkes reports on this week's meeting of the International Olympic Committee focusing on reform. It's been a year since news broke of bribery and misconduct involving IOC members deciding the venue for the 2002 Olympic Games. (7:30)

December 10, 1999 -- Howard Berkes reports from Lausanne, Switzerland on the International Olympic Committee's attempts to move beyond last year's bribery scandal. Meeting exactly one year after the scandal broke, the group will consider 50 reforms, including the election of the IOC president, and getting more active athletes and sports officials on the committee. (4:39)

December 11, 1999 -- Today, Olympic officials are gathering in Switzerland to mark the anniversary of the Olympic bribery scandal with action on 50 proposed reforms. But they're still having trouble putting last year's scandal behind them. (3:30)

December 12, 1999 -- Liane Hansen speaks with NPR's Howard Berkes in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the International Olympic Committee today reached agreement on reforms to the selection process for cities to host future Olympic Games.

December 12, 1999 -- Howard reports from Lausanne, Switzerland, where the International Olympic Committee this weekend adopted 50 reforms designed to prevent future bribery scandals. (4:30)

December 13, 1999 -- Howard reports on the weekend special meeting of the International Olympic Committee, which approved a number of reforms for the IOC. On Wednesday, IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch will testify before a Congressional Committee in Washington on allegations of corruption in the Olympic site selection process. (3:33)

December 15, 1999 -- Howard reports that the president of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch appeared before Congress today. He insisted reforms at the Committee will correct problems associated with the Olympic bribery scandal. But he was greeted by skepticism from lawmakers, who questioned whether the reforms will be fully implemented. One representative, Joe Barton of Texas, called for Samaranch to resign his post. (4:00)

December 16, 1999 --Howard reports that International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch is committed to giving recently-passed IOC reforms enough time to succeed. Samaranch was grilled for three hours by a US Congressional panel yesterday in Washington. (3:52)

An Overview

December 9, 1998 -- Howard Berkes reports on allegations of bribery involving members of the International Olympic Committee and local organizers for the 2002 games in Salt Lake City. The incident has moved a high level Olympics official to call for changes in the way the IOC selects Olympic cities. (4:30)

January 24, 1999 -- Weekend All Things Considered host Jacki Lyden talks with Berkes about the bribery scandals plaguing the olympics. Today, Olympic leaders recommended the expulsion of six members of the International Olympic Committee. (6:00)

January 25, 1999 -- Howard Berkes reports that the International Olympic Committee says it will expel six members implicated in the Salt Lake City bribery scandal. Five other members face lesser punishments and three have already resigned. (4:42)

March 16, 1999 -- Howard Berkes reports on this week's meeting of the International Olympic Committee. The group will decide what punishment may be due to members involved in the current bribery scandal, and try to come up with reforms to prevent such events in the future. (6:30)

November 13, 1999 -- Damaging new details about the U.S. Olympic Committee's involvement in an influence peddling scandal came to light today. A report shows that U.S. Olympic Committee officials went further than previously disclosed in trying to win votes for Salt Lake City's successful bid for the 2002 Winter Games. (3:30)

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