Posted on 08/27/2004 7:19:37 AM PDT by technomage
ATHENS, Greece (AP)
EDDIE PELLS
Gymnastics officials asked American Paul Hamm to give up his gold medal as the ultimate show of sportsmanship, but the United States Olympic Committee told them to take responsibility for their own mistakes.
In a dispute over scores that has turned into a political squabble, the head of the International Gymnastics Federation wrote a letter to Hamm on Thursday night that suggested giving the all-around gold medal to South Korea's Yang Tae-young "would be recognized as the ultimate demonstration of fair play by the whole world."
FIG president Bruno Grandi tried to have the letter sent to Hamm through the USOC, but the USOC refused to deliver it.
In a letter back to Grandi, USOC secretary general Jim Scherr called the request "a blatant and inappropriate attempt on the part of (FIG) to once again shift responsibility for its own mistakes and instead pressure Mr. Hamm into resolving what has become an embarrassing situation for your federation."
Yang, the bronze medalist, was wrongly docked a tenth of a point on his parallel bars routine. If he had received the proper score, he would have won gold and Hamm would have won silver. Three judges were suspended, and FIG said the results would stand.
Through his agent, Hamm declined comment.
In an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, Grandi said he felt the issue was closed until he saw a quote from Hamm, who said earlier this week he would abide by FIG's decision, and give the gold back if the federation said he must.
Although Grandi's letter says "the true winner of the all-around competition is Yang Tae-young" the FIG president insisted he's not pressuring Hamm to give back the gold.
"There is no doubt he has won the medal," Grandi said. "He
deserves the medal and the ranking is clear. . . . "I respect totally Paul Hamm and all the decisions he makes. If he says give back the medal, I respect it. Don't give back the medal, I respect the decision. He is not responsible for anything."
The USOC had a much different interpretation of the letter. "I don't know of any comparison in any sport anywhere where you crown an athlete, crown a team and then say, 'Oh, that was a mistake. Would you fix this for us?"' USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth said.
Uberroth said the USOC considers the case closed, based on the FIG ruling - that the scores could not be changed - and from a statement from International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge, who said the IOC would stick with the results turned in by the federation and wouldn't step in unless there were clear signs of impropriety.
When the russians turn in their 1972 basketball medals.
Well, if Jesus had won the men's all-around, he would have received 10's on all the apparati so there would be no controversy.
Yeah, I saw that too, so why NOW are they STILL trying to say Hamm didn't get the Gold, let's see... give the Korean the .1 he should NOT have lost and take away the .2 he should have... looks like the KOREAN should give back HIS BRONZE to me!
The outcome of judged events like gymnastics will always be subjective. As Hamm has pointed out, if the slo-mo tapes were examined for every gymnast that competed for that medal, every gymnast's standing would be changed. Judges are human and they make mistakes, but that is the nature of the sport and, IMHO, what makes it so interesting.
I disagree. I think he should have a big press conference in New York at Madison Square Garden in prime time next week and say the following:
"I feel that to delight in and profit from being awarded a medal that may not be deserved is simply wrong. I cannot allow such an injustice to continue without some public response. I therefore call on John Kerry to join me in returning all unearned medals immediately."
Is this the same Olympic Committee that had very little to say about the Iranian refusing his match with an Israeli?
A second gold medal was given to the Canadian ice skating couple. Was the Russian couple asked to give up theirs? I think they were allowed to keep it.
I'm With you. Do the right thing, and be respected by the world.--a lot more than the puke judges or the IOC
I agree, Pappy.
On this same note, wouldn't we all just LOVE to see a journalist ask Kerry, "Senator Kerry, what are your thoughts about the disputed gold medal that Paul Hamm received in Athens. Should he give it back?"
1. An initial error by the judges who gave the Korean's routine a 9.9 start value instead of a 10. Under that circumstance the Korean got the bronze and Paul Hamm got the gold.
2. Reviewing the Korean's routine revealed that he performed 4 holds instead of the allowable 3 per routine. The deduction for this is .2. If the judges correctly taken this deduction Paul Hamm still wins and the Korean is out of the medals.
Either way the rightful winner of the gold medal is Paul Hamm - USA - and he should just smile and be gracious as he has throughout this ordeal caused solely by judge's errors.
Early on I might have agreed with them, but not after they showed that the Korean had 4 holds in his routine when only 3 are allowed. 2/10 can be taken off for the extra hold. So, even if only 1/10 gets taken off for that extra hold, it leaves the Korean still lacking enough points.
Exactly right.....unfortunately they are aided and abetted by some Americans.
(Al Gore to George W. Bush): "Abdicate. No one wants a tainted election."
The parallels are striking. But one fact remains - both Bush and Hamm won according to the rules.
Rogge couldn't have been clearer than he was in talking with Costas...apart from demonstrable corruption in judging or proven doping, once a medal is given it's final.
I hope the IOC tells the FIG "FU"
The rules are that the Olympics decide who gets the medals. If they recall the medal, he has to give it back.
Would this be going on if Hamm was anything other than a citizen of the United States...I think not.
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