Seb Coe Contacts International Olympic Committee (IOC) About Chicago 2016 Olympic Games Bid Favor Claims

 Beijing London Chicago Association  (Chicago, IL): If I were going to climb Mount Everest, or any eight-thousander for that matter, I would talk to Sir Edmund Hilary, or Jerzy Kukuczka, or Reinhold Messner, or at least someone like them.

My point is, faced with a big and complex task, I would seek to ensure the chances of success by learning from others who have already succeeded at that task. You can say I would avoid "reinventing the wheel".

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Similarly, if I were going to run an Olympic Games worthy 1500 meters or  win hosting privileges for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games I would talk to Sebastian "Seb" Coe or, more properly, The Right Honourable The Lord Coe KBE.

So I was not surprised to learn that Chicago 2016 officials, in their bid to win hosting privileges for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games for Chicago, apparently, did just that. Talk to Seb Coe I mean.

• Seb Coe who headed London's successful bid for the privilege of hosting the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

• Seb Coe current chairman of London's Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

• Seb Coe vice president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

• Seb Coe who, as an athlete, specifically a middle distance runner, won several Olympic gold medals and established numerous world records during competition at various Olympic Games and other athletic events.

I was somewhat surprised, however, at the implication(claims) of certain circulating stories that Seb Coe "talking" to Chicago 2016 officials indicated malfaseance(wrongdoing) on the part of Chicago 2016, Seb Coe, and LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games).

Afterall, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), such "talks" between officials of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and Olympic hosting Candidate Cities is not prohibited as long as, in this case, Seb Coe and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is open to such "talks" with all Olympic hosting Candidate Cities who make the request.

Much of the aforementioned implication of some manner of collusion between Seb Coe and Chicago 2016 seems to revolve around Patrick Ryan, the Chicago 2016 Bid committee Chairman, who, according to reports, made the following statement(s) referring to Coe and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

"They have been very helpful. I have met on several occasions with Sebastian Coe and he has been very open and helpful, sharing experience, giving us insights about things to do and not to do. We have also met with Keith Mills and Paul Deighton. We have also visited London and there have been visitors from London 2012 to Chicago."

Paul Deighton is Chief Executive of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and Keith Mills is Vice Chairman of LOCOG.

Seb Coe has, apparently in response to the aforementioned implication of some manner of collusion between Seb Coe and Chicago 2016, contacted the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to clarify. Further, a spokesperson for London 2012 has made statements that would appear to characterize the "talks" between Chicago 2016 officials and officials of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) as being consistent with the International Olympic Committee's guidelines..

"Seb has made his help available to all of the bidding cities... He hasn't haven't favoured Chicago. We will do our best to offer advice to any city that seeks it."

Patrick Sandusky, a Chicago 2016 spokesman, has, according to reports, said Patrick Ryan "...met with Sebastian Coe on a couple of occasions and he had been very helpful, as he was sure he had been to the other bidding cities."

Mr. Sandusky further indicated that Patrick Ryan has not claimed Seb Coe is an adviser to Chicago 2016 and claims to the contrary are the result of Mr. Ryan's statements being misinterpreted.

The International Olympics Committee (IOC) is expected to reveal the winning 2016 Olympics host city on October 2, 2009.

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November 23, 2008 11:00am CDT

This news story is: Seb Coe Contacts International Olympic Committee (IOC) About Chicago 2016 Olympic Games Bid Claims BL8ZR

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