Pakistan denies bribe claims

POA denies voting in favour of India to allow them to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games in return of a bribe.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has denied voting in favour of India to allow them to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games in return of a bribe, as claimed by an Australian newspaper.

The newspaper report claimed that India offered all the 72 participating nations $100,000 each to obtain hosting rights of the Games which are due to be held in New Delhi from October 3. The POA President Syed Arif Hasan, however, clarified that the offerings were legal incentives given to participants and confirmed that India had assured $100,000 for every participating country.

“This is nothing new, it happens with every country,” said Hasan. “Even England is offering incentives in its bid documents for the Olympic Games, you can’t call it bribe. The hosts provided air tickets and all countries, when they bid for the Commonwealth Games, offer incentives to the participants in the bid document which is official. India also offered incentives like athletes training as well as accommodation.”

The report also said that Australia received a kickback of $125,000 from India.

“Delhi sealed the right to host the Games when their delegates emerged at the final presentation in Jamaica and offered all 72 nations $100,000 each for athlete training schemes if they were the successful bidders,” the newspaper reported. “The money, subsequently paid to all nations, was not significant to Australia because it had already decided to vote for India and the payment was not a large one.

“But for small nations who have minimal interest in the Games, it clinched their vote and India went on to beat Canadian city Hamilton 46-22 in the final poll. Hamilton had offered the nations about $70,000 each.”

The Games, however, have plunged into crisis and while the organisers remain adamant the event will take place as scheduled, participating nations are wary of not only the security situation but also the state of the athletes’ village.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th,  2010.