Thursday, February 7, 2002

Henderson loses IOC election bid

By STEVE BUFFERY -- Toronto Sun
 SALT LAKE CITY -- Retired Toronto plumbing magnate Paul Henderson watched his hopes go down the drain yesterday at the International Olympic Committee elections.

 Henderson, who guided Toronto's unsuccessful but very strong bid for the 1996 Summer Games, hoped to be elected as an IOC vice-president. But the job was won by American IOC member James Easton.

 Henderson, who also is president of the International Sailing Federation, remains a member of the IOC.

 The former Canadian Olympian indicated he was swept aside by an all-powerful campaign waged on behalf of Easton by the United States Olympic Committee.

 Easton garnered 52 votes to Henderson's 32.

 UPHILL BATTLE

 Henderson told The Toronto Sun Tuesday the influential USOC was demanding a vice-presidential spot for Easton.

 "(The IOC) decided that the USA should have a board member," Henderson said. "It's tough to fight that mentality on their home field."

 However, Henderson added that Montreal lawyer Dick Pound remains the most influential IOC member in the Americas. Pound is a former IOC vice-president and now heads the World Anti-Doping Agency as an IOC member.

 When asked if the election had left a sour taste in his mouth, Henderson said: "No. It allows me to be more outspoken, if that's possible."

 Fortunately, he was able to retain his sense of humour.

 "I got more votes than Pound or either Toronto bid," he said. "So it wasn't all bad."

 At the IOC meetings last summer in Moscow, a Toronto group bid for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Pound ran for the IOC presidency. Beijing won the bid with 56 votes on the second ballot while Toronto managed 22. Belgian physician Jacques Rogge was elected president with 59 votes and Pound finished third with 22.

2002 Games News Coverage