Posted on 07/11/2005 8:48:36 PM PDT by SmithL
THE Mayor of Paris last night accused London of using “corruption” to win the 2012 Olympics.
Bitter Bertrand Delanoe claimed that Tony Blair and bid leader Lord Coe had “crossed the line” in campaigning.
And he vowed to fight to prove that the French capital has the “moral right” to stage the games.
In a shameless display of sour grapes, Delanoe said: “They have not respected the rules established by the International Olympic Committee.
“I’m not saying they came close to crossing the line — they crossed the line completely.
“The victory was won by means other than Olympic ones. We made a choice, notably, to report corruption. This choice I take upon myself.”
The Socialist mayor, who led Paris’s third failed bid since 1986, last week pledged support for bomb-blitzed London by declaring: “We are all Londoners now.”
But yesterday he made an astonishing turnaround while the capital was still rocked by the tragedy.
He claimed that PM Tony Blair had lobbied IOC members, flouting rules regarding meetings between the Committee and bid officials.
It is the second time sourpuss Mr Delanoe, 55, has questioned Britain’s tactics in snatching the games from favourite Paris.
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Hours after losing by just four votes, he claimed London had not used the same “tools”.
But by using the word “corruption” he has taken his criticism to a surly and more dangerous level.
Last night stunned colleagues on Paris’s council branded his remarks “shocking, tactless and almost indecent”.
Claude Goasguen, president of the opposition UMP party on the council, accused him of spouting “spiteful little complaints”.
He said: “They are made against a city which has been touched by war and which is showing the world that it has not lost its courage.”
Goasguen said Delanoe’s words made sure “Paris has moved into the second division”.
Pierre Lellouche, also a UMP party member, said he was “dismayed”.
He said the mayor had “shot away the chances of all French cities” which might be future Olympic candidates.
Mr Lellouche added: “When you fail your exams, you don’t accuse the examiners. When you lose an election, you don’t accuse the people.”
Lord Tom Pendry, chairman of the Parliamentary all-party sports group, last night branded Mr Delanoe a bad loser.
He said: “This is sour grapes. We fought hard, we fought within the rules and they lost — it’s as simple as that.”
A spokesman for IOC president Jacques Rogge said: “Britain has respected the rules.”
Delanoe denied having accused London of bribery.
He said: “All I said was that if Paris had used bribery to win the vote, we would have been reproached for it.”
Paris doesn't have the "moral right" to stage anything.
Yes Sour Grapes to the x.
And here's France, "We have the moral right..." Wow!
Wouldn't you want to be joined to this type of idiot through the E.U.?
Don't walk, RUN Britain, RUN!!!
They "crossed the line."
HAHAHA!!! The french drew a line????
Thanks for the hearty belly laugh that story induced!
“The victory was won by means other than Olympic ones. We made a choice, notably, to report corruption. This choice I take upon myself.”
Oh man! The ONLY body in the world more corrupt than either the IOC or French gov't would be the United Nations.
This is sweet music to these British ears. Keep whining, b*tch!
I believe it was called Maginot... Heh heh heh
Paris is only $10 away from proving Tony Blair stole the Olympics!
Bitter, joyless, gutless people.
Hard to believe they weren't choosen.
They make me sick.
They used...sarcasm...< / monty python >
Claude Goasguen, president of the opposition UMP party on the council, accused him of spouting “spiteful little complaints”.
He said: “They are made against a city which has been touched by war and which is showing the world that it has not lost its courage.”
- but fair play to this guy. Some french at least can see the bigger picture.
The Maginot Line...aaaah...the metahpor for screw-up! Wish I'd'a thought of that one!!!
LOL!!!!
Well I remember when the Greeks were upset they were cheated out of the 100th olympiad in 1996. They did not use the word corruption. Dirty tricks, outright lies yes. They also said they would continue to return the games to the country of their birth. Which they did in 1998 for the 2004 games. It was one major kick *ss party. I am biased I was there.
(They were later vindicated regarding the 1996 games by the head fo the IOC intentionally not closing the games by calling them the best games ever. A traditional closing line before and since. The IOC called the 1996 games the most commercialized and "coca cola" games. I think only the LA games turned a profit.)
Loosers usually do some sort of "unfair" or "dirty tricks" complaints in order to satisfy their home voters. I suspect the Paris mayor care little about the games and is more concerned with CYA.
Beyond ridiculous. This guy would make a good Democrat here in the States.
LOL that "sour grape" face looks like a stale raisin
They all cheat to get the games. Some just cheat better than others.
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