London's Olympics win a mistake: official

[cal04]

A senior Olympic official is claiming London only won the right to host the 2012 Olympics because an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member pressed the wrong button and voted for the wrong country. One of the IOC's most influential members, Israeli Alex Gilady, says one member accidentally voted for Paris when they meant to support Madrid during the crucial third round vote in Singapore in July.

Mr Gilady says this helped Paris reach the final round against London instead of Madrid. Madrid was widely regarded as the biggest threat to London's bid to host the games. It is believed the blunder was made by a Greek IOC member, who protested publicly after the secret ballot that he had not had time to register his vote.

A British IOC member has dismissed the claims, saying all votes were properly recorded.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200512/s1537511.htm

a little more information here
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1958080,00.html

[ClintonTyree]

1. The obvious question has to be asked.........

were they Diebold voting machines?

[DS1]

2. The Olympics are a mistake

[ny_liberal]

3. (IOC) member pressed the wrong button and voted for the wrong country

that's plain embarrasing

[pitohui]

4. yeah

if you screwed up that bad, just stfu what is to be gained by admitting it now?

[LostinVA]

8. Must have been taking lessons from the figure skating judges

[BooScout]

5. This is typical BS from the IOC....

They are for the most part a bunch of snotty good for nothing people who have very sour attitudes. I have heard similar sour grape stories about the Atlanta Olympics, Salt Lake City Olympics, etc. Their method of chosing cities to host the Olympics is sorely in need of kicking out the fat cats that have an iron grip on the choice.....a bigger group of pompous asses would be hard to find.

[ecoalex]

6. Sounds like the ice skating fiasco

[quaoar]

7. He tried to vote for Madrid

but ended up voting for Pat Buchanan instead.

[AlCzervik]

10. rofl

:rofl:

[bemildred]

9. I guess somebody else came up with a bigger "contribution". nt