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French cry foul over London's 2012 bid tactics [Should We Expect More From The Surrender Monkeys?]
Reuters ^ | July 7, 2005 | Julien Pretot

Posted on 07/07/2005 8:24:52 AM PDT by conservativecorner

PARIS (Reuters) - French politicians, media and sports officials cried foul on Thursday over London's snatching of the 2012 Olympic Games from Paris, suggesting underhand tactics may have played a part.

Many congratulated London on its surprise victory. Others said they were convinced Paris's bid was better. Some said London had gone beyond the bounds of fair play.

"An injustice has been done to us by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) members. It's an affront to France," said Francis Luyce, head of France's swimming federation.

Paris bid chief Bertrand Delanoe, the city's mayor, questioned the tactics that helped London win Wednesday's vote in Singapore by the IOC.

"I am simply not sure that we (London and Paris) behaved in the same way as regards the rules of the competitition," he told Le Figaro newspaper.

"Our bid was excellent. Our state of mind was really appropriate to sport and the Olympic spirit. Other things brought London victory but I am not sure they are to do with sport."

London won the final vote at Wednesday's IOC session by 54 votes to 50.

"London, the miraculous survivor, led by the charismatic Sebastian Coe, knew how to work every tactic from aggressive marketing to pure rabble-rousing, promising a better a future to the underprivileged youth of the world," sports daily L'Equipe said.

"They overstepped the mark."

The popular Le Parisien newspaper said the Paris team had paid the price for trying to be irreproachable in its tactics.

"For two years London infringed the rules...but each time the IOC forgave the English," it said.

SECRET SERVICES AT PLAY?

Le Parisien said there had been rumours circulating that Britain had employed its secret services in some way to help the bid before reassuring readers there was no proof of this.

"I am incredulous because the French bid was without doubt better," said Bernard Ansalem, head of the French athletics federation.

Trying to explain Paris's third failed Oluympic bid in 20 years, many blamed France's inferior lobbying skills and declining political influence in the IOC and the wider world.

France lost out because of a strong U.S., British and Spanish alliance built around the group of nations who backed the U.S.-led war in Iraq, some suggested.

The dynamism of Prime Minister Tony Blair and London bid leader Sebastian Coe was also compared with the older-looking Paris team and unpopular President Jacques Chirac.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2012olympics; france; london
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1 posted on 07/07/2005 8:24:54 AM PDT by conservativecorner
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To: conservativecorner

What do the French want, London to be bombed or something?


2 posted on 07/07/2005 8:26:10 AM PDT by spycatcher
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To: conservativecorner

I am French person. Where do you think I got this outrrrrageous accent?

What a bunch of sore losers. It'll be whine and cheese in Paris for a while.
3 posted on 07/07/2005 8:27:42 AM PDT by LIConFem (A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi.)
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To: conservativecorner

The French are such whiners.


4 posted on 07/07/2005 8:28:06 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: LIConFem

Maybe most everyone on the IOC just hates escargots..


5 posted on 07/07/2005 8:29:02 AM PDT by ken5050
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To: conservativecorner
France lost out because of a strong U.S., British and Spanish alliance built around the group of nations who backed the U.S.-led war in Iraq, some suggested.

Just possibly, there is a lesson here about cleaning up corrupt practices associated with Saddam's Oil-For-Food bribes. Getting rid of Chirac is not too high a price to pay, is it?

6 posted on 07/07/2005 8:29:33 AM PDT by OESY
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To: conservativecorner
"Trying to explain Paris's third failed Olympic bid in 20 years, many blamed France's inferior lobbying skills..."

Ouch! This must really slay them. The French like above all else, to regard themselves and to be regarded as world class negotiators and they like to think of their statesmanship and diplomatic skills as the benchmark for all time, in the field of international relations. Ha!
7 posted on 07/07/2005 8:30:20 AM PDT by SMARTY ("Stay together, pay the soldiers and forget everything else." Lucius Septimus Severus)
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To: conservativecorner

Could the French have picked a more inappropriate time to whine about sour grapes? They ought to look at Jacqueass Chirac. Surely his bigoted comments couldn't have possibly alienated anyone that might have been inclined to support Paris, could it?


8 posted on 07/07/2005 8:30:24 AM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: spycatcher
Shouldn't France be accustomed to losing by now?

I can see putting the games in Britain--they bathe, at least. Sweaty atheletes & France--just a smelly combination.
9 posted on 07/07/2005 8:31:06 AM PDT by Missus (We're not trying to overpopulate the world, we're just trying to outnumber the idiots.)
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To: conservativecorner

Last night on Nightline, George Stephanapoulos made the same insinuation.


10 posted on 07/07/2005 8:33:09 AM PDT by MplsSteve
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To: All

I can't imagine why the French are whining about losing - their are the historical losers of all time - should be used to it by now..up yours Jacque - you f'in creep


11 posted on 07/07/2005 8:33:19 AM PDT by michaelbfree
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To: conservativecorner

Considering what's going on in London, this complaint by the French is in EXTREMELY POOR TASTE. But then again, this should not surprise anyone that the French pulled this.


12 posted on 07/07/2005 8:34:56 AM PDT by Braak (The US Military, the real arms inspectors!)
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To: conservativecorner

I realize this was written before today's attack, but to paraphrase Chirac, the French are missing an excellent opportunity to shut the heck up.


13 posted on 07/07/2005 8:35:19 AM PDT by Steelerfan
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To: conservativecorner

Maybe foppish France should charge England to a dual with lace hankerchiefs.

Take that! and that!


14 posted on 07/07/2005 8:35:31 AM PDT by peacebaby (Arrogance has been one of my greatest faults.)
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To: conservativecorner
France lost out because of a strong U.S., British and Spanish alliance built around the group of nations who backed the U.S.-led war in Iraq, some suggested.

Interesting. Here I thought the Iraq war was a unilateral war.

15 posted on 07/07/2005 8:37:41 AM PDT by Always Right
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To: conservativecorner

The French havecompletely overlooked the reality that Chirac acting like and arrogant ass on the world stage the past two plus years probably dealt the eventual death blow to their cause.

Chirac is on a roll--all downhill.


16 posted on 07/07/2005 8:39:07 AM PDT by rod1
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To: VRWCmember
Could the French have picked a more inappropriate time to whine about sour grapes? They ought to look at Jacqueass Chirac. Surely his bigoted comments couldn't have possibly alienated anyone that might have been inclined to support Paris, could it?

If Chirac comments just effected TWO of the 104 votes, it cost them the Olympics.

17 posted on 07/07/2005 8:40:03 AM PDT by Always Right
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To: conservativecorner
Paris bid chief Bertrand Delanoe, the city's mayor, questioned the tactics that helped London win...

Our state of mind was really appropriate to sport and the Olympic spirit. Other things brought London victory but I am not sure they are to do with sport."

LOL... How could the British ever prevail over the French "state of mind"?

18 posted on 07/07/2005 8:41:11 AM PDT by RJL
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To: peacebaby
We have come full circle in record time. We are back to the point of, "Who cares what the French think?"
19 posted on 07/07/2005 8:41:45 AM PDT by oldenuff2no (Proud Nam Vet)
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To: LIConFem
Image hosted by TinyPic.com
20 posted on 07/07/2005 8:43:44 AM PDT by Jackknife (No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.-MacArthur)
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