ago.15.2008

Nine years after introducing anti-corruption regulations for host-city candidates, the International Olympic Committee(IOC) has for the first time issued strict guidelines governing the conduct of sports federations bidding to join its roster.
Following the Salt Lake City corruption scandal the IOC initiated an evaluation report of candidate cities in December 1999 to replace visits by voting members. But there has never been a formal process by which sports may lobby for Olympic status and the higher profile - and funding - it brings.
Baseball and softball have been axed from London 2012 and they, as well as sports such as golf, squash and rugby sevens, have begun campaigning to win a place at the 2016 Games.
The IOC congress votes on the issue in Copenhagen in October next year and the new regulations have been circulated to the sports.
Specifically detailed in the rules is the clause: "No gifts may be made and no advantages promised to IOC members or to members of the Olympic Programme Commission."
This rule applies to both the federations and the professional lobbyists who represent them and extends even to holding receptions for IOC members or paying their expenses to attend their sports' competitions.
The sole area that the IOC's sports director, Christophe Dubi, will permit formal approaches by federations is at their own sports events and at major exhibitions.