Welch Apologizes for Scandal

Tom Welch, who led the winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games, apologized Wednesday for the “discomfort and misunderstanding” of the biggest corruption scandal in Olympic history.

But he insisted he did not act alone.

“I am saddened and dismayed that so many feel the need to isolate responsibility upon a few for what--at the time--were cooperative decisions,” Welch said in a letter faxed to reporters by his lawyer, adding, “It is ironic that those who were so supportive of our efforts to secure the Games now feel the need to distance themselves.”

The letter does not name names. But Welch’s comments were obviously aimed at Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, Salt Lake Organizing Committee acting president Frank Joklik and members of the organizing committee who had served on the bid committee.

Equally clear was that his comments were issued for the benefit of the organizing committee’s ethics panel, a five-member board due to issue a report by Feb. 11--and perhaps sooner--on allegations of wrongdoing in Salt Lake’s bid.

Neither Welch nor his lawyer, Thomas Schaffer, could be reached Wednesday for comment. Leavitt’s spokeswoman, Vicki Varela, said the governor did not know that Utah boosters were giving cash, college scholarships, free medical care and other inducements to International Olympic Committee members or their relatives.

“If the governor had known,” Varela said, “he would have done everything in his power to stop that behavior.”

Joklik, who could not be reached for comment on Wednesday, has said many times he was unaware of excessive spending on IOC members. He resigned Jan. 8 but remains on the job until he is replaced.