IOC Member’s Land Purchase Probed

Problems continue to mount for the organizers of the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics. The Associated Press reported Thursday that the only African American on the city’s bid committee arranged a land deal that resulted in a $60,000 profit for an influential African member of the International Olympic Committee.

Jean-Claude Ganga’s purchase and sale of three residential lots is being investigated by a Salt Lake Olympic Committee ethics panel looking into allegations that bribes were used to win the Games.

Ganga, from the Republic of Congo, bought the three luxury home parcels in September 1995, three months after the IOC awarded Salt Lake the Games.

Ganga was introduced to the seller by Bennie Smith, a local businessman and bid committee member who spent eight years wooing African IOC members, whose votes were considered crucial for Salt Lake.

The SLOC ethics panel is trying to determine the source of the cash for Ganga’s investment.

Attempts to reach Ganga were unsuccessful. Smith did not return telephone messages left at his office.

Ganga is president of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and has been on the IOC since 1986.

IOC members are not allowed to accept gifts of more than $150. They also take an oath to refrain from “political or commercial influence” and promise to abide by the Olympic charter, which calls for “respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.”

Ganga bought three half-acre, undeveloped lots on a hillside overlooking Ogden and the Great Salt Lake for $25,000 each. K. Brent Keller, a home builder and brother of the seller, then built a road to the lots, put in utilities and a storm basin, and Ganga sold the lots for $45,000 each, profiting $60,000.

“He basically played bank for me,” Keller said.

Keller didn’t have the cash to improve the lots for eventual sale to home buyers, he said.

Also, Dick Pound, the IOC vice president who is heading the inquiry into alleged vote buying during the bid, said he was confident the panel could complete its investigation by the Jan. 23-24 target date.

He added that criticism of IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch for accepting $2,000 worth of firearms from Salt Lake City boosters is irrelevant to the current probe of corruption in awarding the games, because Samaranch does not vote on the bid.

Tennis

The International Tennis Federation admitted that its own appeals committee was wrong in not suspending Australian Open champion Petr Korda after he failed a drug test.

After getting complaints from some top players, the ITF said it would seek to overturn the ruling and impose a one-year suspension on Korda, who tested positive for the steroid Nandrolone at Wimbledon in July.

After Martina Hingis’ victory over top-ranked Lindsay Davenport, Switzerland completed a 2-1 victory over the United States in the Hopman Cup at Perth, Australia. Jan-Michael Gambill of the U.S. beat Ivo Heuberger, 6-4, 6-4, in the men’s match, and Hingis and Heuberger took the deciding doubles 6-3, 6-3. Australia clinched a berth in the finals by defeating France, 2-1.

Fourth-seeded Jason Stoltenberg posted a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Gianluca Pozzi before rain halted play late in the second round of the $325,000 Australian Men’s Hardcourt Championships at Adelaide. . . . Top-seeded Mary Pierce was among the top four players who advanced to the semifinals of the $180,000 Australian Women’s Hardcourt Championships at Gold Coast. She disposed of fellow Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy, 6-4, 6-3. . . . Top-seeded Dominique Van Roost of Belgium moved closer to her second consecutive ASB Bank Classic title with a 6-4, 6-0 quarterfinal victory over Kristina Brandi at the $110,000 event at Auckland, New Zealand.

Miscellany

Peter Angelos, owner of the Baltimore Orioles, wants to take his team to Cuba for an exhibition game during spring training, then invite the Cuban national team to play at Baltimore. The proposal ultimately must be approved by the players’ union, as well as both Cuban and U.S. governments. . . . The San Diego Padres are expected to announce that they will play the season-opening Sunday night game against the Colorado Rockies at Monterrey, Mexico, on April 4.

Lajos Tichy, one of Hungary’s all-time great soccer scorers, died Wednesday night after suffering a stroke Dec. 31. He was 63. . . . Peter G. Bridgwater, president and general manager of the San Jose Clash, said he is leaving the Major League Soccer team to take a position with the league. . . . Vincent Basso of Buffalo Grove, Ill., was charged with sports bribery and three other crimes related to a 1994 Arizona State basketball point-shaving scheme, in a federal court in Chicago. What role Basso, son of Dominick Basso, who was convicted in 1988 on syndicated gambling charges, allegedly played wasn’t immediately clear.