Andrew Jennings, consultant to BBC documentary "Buying the Games", comments in an interview for Sofia News Agency expectations and latest developments in the bribery scandal, involving Bulgarian IOC member Ivan Slavkov.
Jennings works for British and foreign press, TV and radio as an investigative reporter, presenter, producer, consultant and commentator. He has published three books about investigating the International Olympic Committee - 1992: The Lords of the Rings, 1996: The New Lords of the Rings: Olympic Corruption & How to Buy Gold Medals, 2000: The Great Olympic Swindle.
Sofia News Agency Editor Ivelina Puhaleva approached Andrew Jennings hours before IOC's executive board is set to hear Ivan Slavkov defending against allegations for breaking ethics rules and "seriously tarnishing" the IOC's image.
Q: Do you think the situation concerning bribery allegations against Slavkov has changed in a way since last year?
A: In August last year Ivan Slavkov was seen on television worldwide doing what he has done for nearly two decades: attempting to line his pockets out of the Olympic games. IOC president Rogge, with the unanimous backing of his executive board, immediately viewed the film and suspended Slavkov.
Later that year, the same executive board recommended his expulsion, just as soon as the whole IOC met again. That is now. There has been no change in opinion anywhere in the world.
Only in the demented crowd of sycophants around him in Bulgaria has there been any disagreement with this view. Bulgaria would be better off without them.
Q: When starting to film the documentary "Buying the Games" with BBC, did you foresee how far this scandal would spread?
I was confident that the programme would unearth corruption among IOC members and the "agents" for votes.
Q: In your opinion, could Ivan Slavkov rely on the support of either member of the IOC? He had earlier expressed assurance he would be cleared of all accusations by the Ethics Commission of IOC?
A: I think most IOC members realise that (a) Slavkov is a corrupt impediment to the Olympic movement in Bulgaria and the whole world and (b) if they don't take the necessary cleansing, the world will turn its back on them.
Slavkov said he would be cleared by the ethics committee. Most criminals plead not guilty. Most are liars. He tried to mislead opinion in Bulgaria.
Q: There have been press reports here that Ivan Slavkov considers resigning as an IOC member in an attempt to preserve his national positions in sports? How would a resignation of Slavkov be accepted at the IOC?
The IOC have hoped Slavkov would follow the example of his fellow disgraced member Kim Un Yong; resign and disappear back to obscurity. If he is expelled he will try and keep his football positions. That will be bad for football.
Q: If expelled from the IOC board, what will happen with the empty chair of Bulgaria? Does Bulgaria stand chances to delegate a successor to the IOC?
A: No country, including Bulgaria, has a guaranteed seat on the IOC. Personally, I think the representation should be wider. But under current rules, there can be no automatic replacement.
It may be that in the years ahead, an honest Bulgarian person could again be made a member.
Q: So far as the journalistic approach is concerned, don't you think hidden camera filming is quite a questionable means to fight alleged corruption? How could journalists defend themselves from follow-up accusations of film manipulation?
A: Secret filming is acceptable if, as in the case of the BBC, a detailed case for it is presented to senior BBC management by the programme's producers. Secret filming is rare and only permitted when it is very likely that important evidence that the public should know of will be obtained.
That Panorama programme was scrupulously managed by the BBC and nothing morally unacceptable happened. And the final justification is that Slavkov was seen to be acting corruptly. If he had not so blatantly provided the evidence on camera, nothing would have been screened.
Film manipulation? It didn't happen, this is the typical response of corrupt people when they are caught.
Q: Do you think London succeeded in taking advantage of this documentary to win the 2012 Olympics bid?
A: This question baffles me. The observable facts are that the British government, backing the bid, were privately furious but dared not appear to attack the independence of the BBC, Britain's favourite and most trusted broadcaster.
The London bid team was even angrier, deeply worried that the arrogance of many IOC members would deny London any chance to win. I am sure they have made it clear to IOC members that they knew nothing of the programme before it was transmitted.
I know of many IOC members who will have pleased that somebody, anybody, even the media, helped get rid of Ivan Slavkov, a man they knew to be corrupt. Some will vote for his expulsion with a song in their hearts. One more problem got rid of. So maybe the film didn't cause the damage that the London bid team foresaw.
Q: Does BBC plan to extend this journalistic investigation into doubtful practices of other high-positioned international sports officials?
A: I am a freelance who sometimes works for the BBC. I do not make their programme plans. I cannot speak for them.
But I have made documentaries for both the BBC and independent television companies in Britain about sports corruption since 1989. Many other BBC reporters have done similar work.
For many years the BBC had a programme ‘On the line' which investigated sports corruption.
This poison continues in sport and I would not be surprised if the BBC - and other broadcasters - tackle the subject again. They will tackle corruption in all areas of public life, not just sport.
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Andrew Jennings was a consultant to BBC documentary "Buying the Games", which exposed Ivan Slavkov, Bulgaria's IOC member, in alleged negotiations of bribery over London's 2012 Olympic bid.
