Coe TV debate is axed

Olympic chiefs today pulled the plug on plans for an unprecedented TV debate involving all five bid leaders in the campaign for the 2012 Olympics.

After originally giving approval for the BBC programme at the end of this month, the International Olympic Committee have now decided that a discussion programme involving London bid leader Seb Coe and his four counterparts would be against their bidding rules.

The decision is controversial since the programme was set to be broadcast to millions across the globe by BBC World and was supported by the candidate cities.

But Standard Sport has learned that Olympic chiefs sent a letter to officials in London, Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris today, saying the programme would violate their ethics rules which ban cities from criticising each other in public.

The BBC, which has been planning the programme for six months, will be allowed to interview all five bid leaders at other times during the campaign. But Coe and his rivals will not be allowed to come together in one place for a discussion programme, as was planned in Turin on 27 January. The decision shows how strict the IOC's ethics commission have become.

The IOC are expected to be heavily criticised for the decision, especially since the debate would have been a rare opportunity for the public - and IOC members - to see the cities go head-to-head before July's vote in Singapore.

London had a lot to gain from the programme, given that Coe is a former MP who is used to taking part in public debates.

The double Olympic champion is also, by far, the most recognised sporting figure among the bid leaders.