FBI Questions IOC Members

The International Olympic Committee warned its members Sunday they may face FBI questioning and perhaps even subpoenas in connection with the Salt Lake City corruption scandal.

IOC Director General Francois Carrard also said that three IOC members were interviewed last month by the FBI, which is inquiring into the possibility of criminal wrongdoing stemming from Salt Lake’s winning bid for the 2002 Games. A fourth IOC member is due to be interviewed in the coming weeks. Carrard declined to identify any of the four.

President Juan Antonio Samaranch, asked at a news conference Sunday whether he was worried about being questioned by the FBI, answered: “No. If I am interviewed, there will be an interview. It is no problem for me.”

As it closed up shop after a weeklong session, the IOC also condemned the “excessive reaction” in Switzerland to Sion’s defeat Saturday in the vote for the 2006 Winter Games.

According to police, vandals sprayed “Mafia” on the statue, with a letter written in each of the five Olympic rings on the sculpture; underneath was inscribed “Torino 2006.”

“The IOC understands the disappointment of the people of Sion . . . and Switzerland,” the statement issued Sunday said. “However, it points out that the [IOC] chose freely and democratically between the two finalists, both of whose bids were excellent.

“The IOC regrets the excessive reactions of certain people but is sure the traditional Swiss sense of calm will soon prevail once more.”

Just in case, IOC sources said, the institution is almost certain to deploy extra security this week at its offices.

In a related development, Samaranch told delegates that the site for the next IOC session in December is still undecided. The meeting had been scheduled for Lausanne. Samaranch’s comments hinted that the IOC, concerned about possible protests, may move the session to another country.

In the meantime, IOC officials said that they intend to cooperate fully with the FBI.

“We will respect the FBI,” Samaranch said Sunday. “We will respect the Justice Department in the United States. The only thing I said is we want this problem to be finished as soon as possible.”

Carrard said the IOC would provide its members with a one-page document outlining their legal rights and explaining how to contact the IOC’s attorneys in the United States. (The membership roll grew to 104 Sunday with the addition of world soccer chief Joseph “Sepp” Blatter.)

In addition to those already questioned, more interviews are likely, Carrard said.

The FBI has given the IOC no indication of a timetable for the conclusion of its investigation, several IOC sources said Sunday.

And, Carrard said, so far the FBI questioning has been carried out “in a respectful and discreet way.”