Managing a "Gentlemen's Club"

By Monique Berlioux

Seven gentlemen and In 1964., I published a book on the history of the Olympic the destiny of Bovril, and the Hyde Park Hotel in which a female d irector-the Games, entitled O lym pica. Three years later I began to we found ourselves belonged to him. He was a man of first meeting of the ioc think about turning it into a screenplay. I realized that I average height, solidly built, with an engaging smile, Executive Committee would need backing, and at the very least, a producer, and bushy eyebrows which protected a flickering gaze. under President Lord I spoke to my friend Myriam Meuwly, who worked Then there was Heinz Schobel, from the German Killaninon2nflFebruary as a bi-lingual secretary for International Olympic Democratic Republic, a communist and a 'anti-Nazi'. 1973 (left to right): Committee (IOC), and w as editor o f the O lym pic Bulletin. His face, like his body, was nervous and emaciated. He PrinceTakeda,Juan She advised me to write to Lord Killanin, Member was accompanied by a translator. Antonio Samaranch, of the IOC for Ireland since 1952. He had just been Count Jean de Beaumont was the fourth member of Konstantin Andrianov, nominated as Chairman of the IOC's newly created Press the commission. Unfortunately, he wasn't present. Countde Beaumont, Commission. He immediately invited me to a meeting I had pinned all my hopes on my compatriot, and he Lord Killanin, Herman of his commission in London. h ad n 't co m e ... van Karnebeek, Sylvio Having recently broken my ankle in three places I was The fifth person in this small pale green room was de Magaihaes Padiiha. trundled feet first into the meeting room in a wheelchair. Colonel Johann Westerhoff, the Secretary-General of AbsentareSirAdemolo Conversation stopped short. Lord Killanin was in the the IOC: a loud-voiced giant with straw-coloured hair, andthe3'd vice-Presi- Chair, pipe in mouth, a silver chain bracelet clinking on a broad smite, rosy cheeks, and blue eyes. dent, Willi Daume. his right wrist. He was a man of majestic roundness, with Once the basic outlines of my project had been standing: Monique pink skin, and curling silver hair. White side whiskers cut sketched out, Westerhoff, an outgoing man with a Berlioux and the across his plum p cheeks. He w ore a navy suit, a light blue booming laugh, took turns with Lord Killanin to question adviser Artur Takac. shirt, and a lemon-coloured knitted tie. me. I began to talk about ways and means, that is, about He addressed me in English, confident, as all English- money. I was forced to acknowledge that the IOC did IOC Archives/OSC . . speakers are that their language is universal. That didn't not have a penny to its name. All it could offer was its bother me. But what I didn't then know was that Lord patronage, its benediction, and its support; full stop. Killanin had a particular way of mumbling: dropping Johann Westerhoff accompanied me to the door. We his voice, and stuttering and stammering in the best spoke. He was lookingfora press attache and a public tradition of an old boy of Magdalene College Cambridge. relations director for the IOC. W ould I be interested? ‘Yes To one side of him sat Lord Luke of Pavenham, a blue- of course', I replied. Two months later he wrote to me, blooded Englishman. At that time he presided over inviting m e io . It w as the end o f May. At the time the IOC Headquarters was still housed where in Paris, less still of leaving it on the footpath. It could had left it, in a manor house known only be left in designated parking spaces. The locals as Mon-Repos, situated in a park in the centre of the were all policemen at heart and one was rapidly called tow n. to order by the first passer-by for the most minor offence. On my arrival Johann Westerhoff greeted me warmly And I had an accent, a French accent, recognizable miles in a superb office smelling of furniture polish. De away, and there w as no w ay round it. Coubertin's library took up two walls of the room. We At midday the restaurants were filled with men; and quickly came to an agreement. I would begin work on nine-tenths of the time only men dined out in the i stA ug u sti967. evening. Women were meant to 'putzer', that is to keep Once I got down to the job I was hooked; there was house and stay out of business matters. so much to do. But the hours of work were set by the During my first winter in the town, the Syndic (Mayor), caretaker who resolutely closed the doors of Mon- Pierre-Andre Chevallaz, gave an official dinnerforthose Repos between midday and two o'clock, and again at members of the IOC who happened to be in Lausanne, six o'clock precisely. I had always liked working during and I was invited along. TheTown Clerk was astonished the sacrosanct lunch hour and in the evening when the that I should be in Lausanne while my husband was telephones finally became less insistent. Now it was out in Paris. ‘But who washes his shirts?' he demanded. of the question. Nor was anyone permitted to enterthe ‘Sorry’, I replied, 'he didn't marry a cleaning woman'. building on a Saturday. I was immediately classed as a pariah. So Friday evenings when I was free from work I jumped Even so, I came to appreciate the kindness of those into the train back Paris. My husband Serge Groussard Swiss people with whom I came in contact over the would be waiting to collect me at the Gare de Lyon at years, and to admire their earnestness, their appetite 11 p.m. to take me to eat oysters. I had loved the bustle for hard work and a job well done, and their spirit of and excitement of Paris, with its 'open all hours' lifestyle. co-operation. Lausanne in the late 1960s was a very different place. When Pierre de Coubertin discovered he Fortunately the work kept me busy, for there was was enchanted by this hardworking, methodical, and nothing else to do. I learnt a lot about it in those first stern little country. For him, its political organisation few weeks. In the evening, the shops closed attwenty- represented the ideal government. In his U n iv ersa l nine minutes past six and the town emptied, as though H isto ry he wrote: 'In its current form, the Helvetian sucked of its blood by a vampire. Confederation constitutes the most perfect political There was no question of parking one's car as close as achievement so far attained by humanity'. possible to one's destination, as I was accustomed to do Besides, he was closely linked with two Swiss citizens:

Monique Berlioux, *1925. She represented France as a swimmer at the 19A8 . Before she came to Lausanne in 1967, where she served the IOC as director from 1969 to 1985, she had worked as a sports journalist and head of the press division at the Ministry for Youth and Sport. After leaving Lausanne in 1985, she advised the City of Paris which was bidding for the Games of 1992. She is married to the author and former Resistance fighter Serge Groussard, who fell into the clutches of the Gestapo in 1943.

Photo: Albert Riethausen, I'Amicale des International^ Franjaisde Natation Baron Godefroy de Blonay and Francis Messerli. De Mayer had been 'recruited' by Sigfrid Edstrom when Blonay, an Egyptologist, had met de Coubertin in Paris the latter became President of the IOC in 19A6. He had when he was carrying out research at the Louvre. The also been 'recommended' by Lydie Zanchi. His brother two men got on well together. Both came from the same Albert becam e a m em ber o f th e IOC. Born an d bred in world and shared the same culture. In 1899, Baron de the Canton o f , Otto and Albert were well-known Blonay, who owned the Chateau de Grandson near jewellers in .ausanne and Montreux, respectively. Neuchatel, was appointed by de Coubertin as the IOC Having a prosperous business in a luxury trade enabled Member in Switzerland. Otto to carry out the job of Chancellor on a quasi­ In 1922, the Vaudois capital offered the IOC a floor volunteer basis. 'Otto Mayer', recalled Lord Killanin in in Mon-Repos, a property which the commune had My Olympic Years 'ran the IOC's business from the back Swiss artillery acquired in 1910 for the sum of two million Swiss francs. room of his premises, and the bar of the next door Lieutenant-Colonel The demesne had been formed through the purchase of hotel'. Besides, he was 'a jolly good fellow', and held Andre G. Berdez (1888- various vineyards and the first house was built there in in high esteem by whisky drinkers and imbibers of the 19A0) took over from W by the Controller-General, Secretan. local white wine alike. his young compatriot Over the years it was to be rented out to numerous Otto got on very w ell w ith Sigfrid Edstrom. W hen Avery Fred Auckenthaleras English and German nobles, including Prince Reuss- Brundage became President, he confirmed Otto in his IOC Secretary in 1925. Gretz, an ancestor of the second Mrs. . post, with a salary of 500 Swiss Francs a month. All When Berdez fell A theatre had been set up in the park where Voltaire's went well for the first few years. But then Otto became seriously ill in 1939, tragedies and comedies, including 'Zaire', had been friendly with David Burghley (the future Marquess of he was represented performed in the presence of the philosopher, and of his Exeter), and with the French journalist Gaston Meyer. at the London IOC guest the English historian and Member of Parliament, It was an explosive cocktail. Avery Brundage took Session in June by his Edward Gibbon, who lived in Lausanne for many years. umbrage at this Swiss-British friendship, and was designated successor, Napoleon Bonaparte passed through in 1800 on his astounded that Gaston Meyer's paper L 'E q u ip e alw ays the German Werner way to Italy. All the European gentry had been received had hitherto unpublished news, and knew more about Klingeberg. there, from the Bonaparte brothers to the sons of King the intentions and voting patterns of the IOC than Louis-Philippe of France, from Prussian princes to certain members did themselves. Photo: Volker Kluge Archive King Alfonso XIII of Spain, and the future English King Otto had engaged a pretty young saleswoman- Edward VII. cum-secretary who was to become more fascinated The 1922 agreement having been tacitly renewed, from by Olympism than by jewellery: her name was Myriam 1935 onwards, the City of Lausanne retained the first Meuwly. Brundage took a very serious interest in the floor for reception rooms. It allowed the IOC to use the new recruit, who accompanied him on his travels as second floor, consisting of a fine meeting room, a vast interpreter, and kept him well informed about the course office overlooking the park, and three or four smaller of business. Her tall, slender silhouette pleased Avery rooms. The third floor, on which de Coubertin had lived Brundage. Jean de Beaumont pursued her. But there was towards the end of his life in order to escape the rages of gossip amongst the old guard, led by Lord David. his lady wife, was converted into an . From 1929 Lydie Zanchi The caretaker lodged on the ground floor. (1905-1993) helped out The Olympic administration purred along tranquilly in the IOC secretariat at the appropriately named Mon-Repos ('My Repose') on an ad hoc basis. between two Sessions. During the Olympics, it was It was not until 191*6, transferred to the city in which the Games were being after she had con­ held. ducted IOC business De Coubertin had carried out all the administrative more or less single tasks himself, for most of his life but in 1922 Fred handedly throughout Auckenthaler, a Swiss, was appointed Chancellor. the Second World War, He resigned in 1925. He was succeeded by Andre G. that she was appoint­ Berdez, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Swiss Army, who ed full-time by the died in January 1940. From then until 19^6, when Otto Otto was not happy. Madame Zanchi gritted her teeth. new IOC President Mayer took on the Chancellorship on 23rd June, Mrs. Relations between the President and the Chancellery Sigfrid Edstrom Lydie Zanchi, a Swiss woman of Russian origin, was in were soured. Avery criticized Otto for his attitude, and (photo). charge of the secretariat and led it with great efficiency above all, for his support for Exeter, to such an extent and competence throughout the Second World War, that Otto resigned in 1964. He maintained that he had Photo: IOC Archives / OSC ensuring exchanges amongst members of the opposing too much work and was neglecting his own business. camps and sending out circulars from Count de Baillet- Nonetheless he remained in post until the end of the Latour to the four corners of the world. Tokyo Games in order to see in his successor. The title of Chancellor was abandoned, as being too in Jakarta, and trained at the Netherlands Military grandiose, and a Secretary-General was sought. The job Academy, Westerhoff was a successful businessman looked great on paper but was poorly paid. Candidates who had retired to his farm in Grub (in the Canton who were in the know about earlier vicissitudes drifted of Appenzell) to train horses, and was looking for an away. In the end Marc Hodler, the second IOC Member occupation rather than a profession. He was a handsome recommended a former Judo player who had become man with many sporting interests, and spoke several an official. His name was Eric Jonas and he came from languages. Brundage was impressed by his military Lausanne. He started w ork on 1st Septem ber 1964. bearing and his linguistic talents. He agreed to meet him Jonas, although a respected administrator of the but added that the final decision would be made by the Judo Federation, entered the hushed and aristocratic Executive Committee. Thus the candidate was called to environment of Olympism with all the subtlety of a Rome where the 65,h IOC Session was to take place, in decent Swiss peasant. He rubbed some members up 1966. the wrong way, and exasperated others. He considered himself invested with almost divine powers. He ordered Meeting of the IOC forthwith a pennant for his car with the Olympic rings. Executive Committee Avery Brundage did not play around with the use of under President Avery the rings; other times, other customs. He upbraided Brundage in June 1961* the culprit in no uncertain terms. Two or three similar in Lausanne: on his blunders taxed the President's patience. left Vice-President The Tokyo Games were barely over when things went ArmandMassard.on downhill. The following April, the Executive Board the right the Marquess unanimously decided to dispense with the services of of Exeter. Far left: the Secretary-General. As for Jonas, he had other ideas, Myriam Meuwly {1936- and took the IOC to court, claim ing fouryears' salary. 2010), through whose Marc Hodler tried to smooth things over, but his efforts good offices Monique were taken badly. Avery Brundage held him responsible. Berliouxcameto the The local press took Jonas's part. They attacked the IOC Colonel Westerhoff was made to wait for some time in IOC. In the foreground: and Brundage in savage fashion. In 1965, the people of an antechamber before finally being introduced. His Lydie Zanchi and Lausanne had not yet forgiven the fact that Lausanne had opening speech was brief: ‘Mr. President, members, Chancellor Otto Mayer not been chosen to organise the 1960 Games, which they thank you for having chosen me as Secretary-General'. (1900-1970). At this considered to have been an insult. The IOC had chosen To say that the members were dumbfounded by the meeting Mayer wanted Rome. Avery was not persona grata in the capital ofVaud. candidate's aplomb would be an understatement. The to clarify rumours After the Jonas experience, the IOC, and its Executive Marquess of Exeter was the first to recover his wits. He about his resignation. Board, determined not to make the same mistake by welcomed the Dutchman. His colleagues could only He described his rela­ employing another local. As the months passed looking follow suit. tionship with Brundage for a replacement for Jonas. Madame Zanchi, who Colonel Johann Westerhoff was the first non-Swiss as "excellent". had had the title of Secretary under Otto Mayer, was to head the IOC's administration. Like Jonas, he was nominated interim Secretary-General. Admittedly at given the title of Secretary-General. Once in place, the this time it was out of the question that a woman be Colonel moved swiftly to make changes. He wished to appointed to take the place of Eric Jonas. Women had increase the number of staff, and give more importance recently been granted the right to vote at Cantonal but to the administration. In short, he wanted to establish not Federal level in Switzerland and were meant to be a proper Secretariat General in Switzerland, and notin confined to lesser posts. The United States Constitution Chicago, where Brundage managed IOC affairs. had been amended on 26th August 1920 to ratify votes for Having taken the measure of Mon-Repos, and of women, and France had followed, a generation later, Lausanne, he decreed thatZurich would be an infinitely on 21st April 1944. Incredibly, the Swiss Confederation more suitable place to house the Olympic Movement. waited until 7th February 1971 Zurich possessed an international airport, which was Lydie Zanchi was well supported by the brilliant and not the case for the capital o f Vaud; one had to travel attractive Myriam Meuwly, who later resigned in 1967 to Geneva, sixty kilometres away, to catch a flight. Also because of disagreements with the Secretary-GeneraI. Zurich, as the biggest city in the Swiss Confederation, She then resumed her studies and became a famous was at the centre of Europe. What Westerhoff failed to journalist. mention was that Zurich was also just thirty kilometres As a successor to Jonas the Dutchmen Jonkheer from his farm at Grub. Herman van Karnebeek and Colonel Pahud de Mortanges So he began his campaign. Shouts of protestall round. proposed their compatriot Johann Westerhoff. Born The people ofVaud could not understand why they should be deprived of the Canton's only international At the time a gulf separated ‘volunteers' from 'staff', organisation, they who had always offered such a gulf which, curiously, still exists, albeit to a lesser generous hospitality to the IOC. degree. Within the Olympic Movement, there was only Brundage, who had not been consulted before one class of sports administrator: those key figures who discussions with the German Swiss had begun, gave their time freely, without seeking other reward. looked unfavourably on the growing administration Any employed person was a ‘professional’ and did not developing outside his orbit. enjoy the prerogatives of the former. This attitude was The Municipality sent a letter to all members on entirely logical in de Coubertin's time; it ensured that 14th April 1967 com plaining about the actions of the volunteers were independent, and that the workforce Secretary-General. Summoning up the history of was submissive. relations between Lausanne and the IOC, it promised Johann Westerhoff did not see things this way. Over After the dismissal of to find a satisfactory solution to the need to expand the weeks, relations between the President and the IOC General Secretary the Headquarters. It offered the Chateau de , a Secretary-General deteriorated and by time of the Eric Jonas, the Dutch two-story country seat on the outskirts of the city. By Session preceding the Mexico Games, in 1968, the two industrialist Johann coincidence, as in the case of Mon-Repos, Napoleon were barely speaking. Both lived in sumptuous suites at W. Westerhoff (1915- had also stopped there in 1800 before the Italian either end of the immense Camino Real Hotel; I acted as 19%), who lived in cam paign. runner between them, carrying messages. Switzerland, was The advantage of Vidy lay in the fact that on the one Once re-elected at the Mexico Session, Brundage’s appointed as his hand it was close to the motorway, enabling access to one thought was to send the Dutchman back to his successor. Born in Geneva airport in thirty minutes, and on the other, it farm. This he achieved on 21st January 1969, having Djakarta, Westerhoff came with tied accommodation in the form of Villa obtained his resignation after hours of discussion. The was a top level show Gruaz, just 500 metres from the 'chateau'. No solution Swiss memters, Albert Mayer and Marc Hodler, together jumper and had hoped was offered for the Museum, however, which would with the Egyptian, Taher Pacha, had participated in to compete for the remain on the third floor of Mon-Repos. the negotiations, and given Brundage their support. A Dutch Olympic team In addition to rent-free use of the Chateau de Vidy, the formal announcement was made. And so I was made in 1990. In 1965 he Municipality offered to pay for heating and electricity. responsible for administration, on a temporary basis, founded a stables in Given the precariousness of its resources, the IOC was while a new, less ambitious, Secretary-General was Grub in Canton Appen- not in a position to make difficulty. Nonetheless the sought. And once again the title had to be changed in zell. After continuous new Headquarters proved impractical as offices, being order to avoid any confusion over the functions required criticism of his work at on the extreme west of the city. Those members of the of the post. At the Mexico Session in 1968, Brundage the IOC, he announced secretariat who did not possess a car had to rely on a had nominated General Clark (Mexico) as President of his retirement. bus service which stopped almost a mile away, and the Co-ordination and Supervision Committee, which ran every half hour. The building was in the centre of was charged not only with re-organising the IOC's Photo: IOC Archives / OSC a square formed on one side by the motorway, and on structures, and its relationships with National Olympic the others by a cemetery where de Coubertin’s body lay Committees and International Federations, but also its interred (his heart being buried at Olympia), a sewage administration. works, and a campsite. Jose Jesus de Clark Flores was the son of an American Once the decision had been taken, the move took father and an Indian mother. Highly intelligent, he place in the spring of 1968, at the close of the Grenoble had succeeded not only in making a career in the Games. With the departure from Mon-Repos, a page Army, rising to the grade of General, but also in the of Olympic history had been turned. I have always private sector, having amassed a considerable fortune regretted the move from that fine elegant building, so in the construction business. Avery used to tease him ideally situated in the centre of the town. The monies by calling him 'Dedo General' (‘fingered General’), poured into the Chateau de Vidy by the Municipality and that is, taken out of the ranks and promoted through by the IOC, could have been used to turn Mon-Repos favouritism. He had concluded flourishing deals with into an ideal Headquarters. Avery, notably in Baja California, in northern Mexico. He The Grenoble Games were barely over when Westerhoff hoped to play a big role in Olympism and, who knows, began a world tour in orderto visit the many National succeed Bri ndage, but he only spoke Spanish. For the Olympic Committees which, under pressure from time being, he was just a Vice-President. Giulio Onesti, IOC Member in Italy, wished to escape the My first contact with him was difficult but clear cut. He tutelage of the IOC. For Avery, his was the final straw. had complained, in rather discourteous terms, about It was up to the President, and the President alone, to an article w h ich I had w ritten fo r th e IOC’s Information travel, and to conduct himself as Head of State. He could Letter. I had responded like for like, finding, in my fury, no longer tolerate this attack on his authority, this act of sufficient Spanish for the purpose. He was so taken lese majesty. And what is more, from a paid employee! aback that a woman, and what is more, an employee, should address him in such terms, that he softened. course have our disagreements, although today I can We came to know and respect each other and worked hardly remember any. together well. On his appointment, Lord Killanin had incontestably General Clark's Commission had prepared an organi­ been put under pressure to have me replaced. He gram which was adopted by the Session. There would himself had considered it for a moment. Above all, he no longer be a Secretary-General, but instead three wanted me to be overseen by a man. Then as the weeks Directors: one for Administration, one for Information passed, he saw the advantages of the situation, and and Propaganda, and one for Technical Assistance. Thus decided to team up with the woman that I was, rather the persons appointed would not be tempted to liken than risk another Jonas or a Colonel Westerhoff, who themselves to the Secretary-General of the UN, not to would be less flexible. Besides, economies had to be forget that the President alone held the reins. made, and a woman's salary was naturally lower than The three posts envisaged by General Clark's organ­ a m an's! igram were to be filled in 1969; in the meantime I was acting as interim administrator in addition to being Press Officer. Avery Brundage accepted the appointment of a Technical Director w illy-nilly but baulked at the appointment of the Director (administration), preferring the status quo, despite the instance of certain members of the Executive Board who did not believe that I could carry out tw o functions. My relationship with Brundage was always cloudless. Our roles were clear: he presided, reigning over everything, whilst I administered and put his decisions into practice. This did not stop me from giving him my opinion nor from disagreeing with him at times. But once a decision had been taken, I submitted to it. And from time to time, I managed to influence him. Once work was over, Avery liked me to accompany him at mealtimes. On the one hand, he wanted to avoid Apart from the official act which sealed the establish­ On the 50th anniver­ being monopolized by a Member of the IOC. On the m ent of the IOC at Lausanne on 10th April 1915, there had sary of the IOC the other hand, he liked to relax after meetings, and to talk been few exchanges between its Presidents and the City of Lausanne was of other things. Frederick Ruegsegger, a Swiss German Municipality. In any case, Avery Brundage, and Lord awarded the Olympic whom he had recruited in the 1950s, followed him Killanin after him, both enjoyed good relations with Cup. But it was not everywhere as his private secretary, butler, and right- the Syndics in office: Pierre Graber, Georges-Andre until the first Session hand man. The three of us spent unofficial lunches Chevallaz and Jean-Pascal Delamuraz, who all three after the Second World and dinners telling stories punctuated by great cries became Members of Parliament and each, in turn, War held in Lausanne, of laughter. How many times had I surprised wrathful became President of the Confederation. Encounters were that IOC President looks from members, shocked that their President infrequent, however. The city fulfilled its contract to offer Sigfrid Edstrom was should be mixing with the staff... free accommodation, heating, and lighting to the IOC. finally able to hand With Lord Killanin, professional relations were The IOC ensured a high profile for Lausanne by organising over the cup to Pierre immediately stamped with a confidence which I meetings there which drew in members of high society Graber, the City Syndic believe to be reciprocal. But during the eight years of and the international press. (Mayor). Right in front the Irishman's mandate our personal contacts were If Avery Brundage often thought of moving the IOC of Edstrom: the new rare. In my eyes, this had a double advantage: firstly no Headquarters from the city he never followed up this IOC Chancellor Otto one could complain and secondly I was free to eat lunch aspiration. In the same way, Lord Killanin did not Mayer. and dinner as I pleased, provided that there were no care much for the narrowness both of the site and of official social engagements. In between meetings, Lord its inhabitants. He was strongly urged by Giulio Onesti Killanin came regularly to work for two or three days at to leave Lausanne. The Italian member offered him a Vidy, when we got through a lot of business. The rest superb palace in Rome, with a promise from the Italian of the time, we exchanged mountains of telexes and governm ent to create a sort of sporting Vatican. memoranda. Here again the demarcation was clear: he Willi Daume, one of the German members, detested defined policy, I applied it. He often asked my opinion, Lausanne, where he always seemed to be greeted by particularly on the speeches which he had to deliver. It rain, and he wrote to Lord Killanin in 1974 that 'I have was a great pleasure to seek out new ideas. We did of been and will always remain absolutely against Lausanne. The city is totally unfit as Headquarters for of the local hospital. At the same time, Geneva offered the most prominent sport organisation of the world'. sumptuous premises, but the President did not wish to As for , he saw the inspect them . advantages for him of the situation. First of all, long When control of Olympic Solidarity passed to before 1980 he had wanted to get away from Spain Samaranch’s childhood friend, Anselmo Lopez, more where he considered that the attacks on prominent office space was needed. And as luck would have it, personalities had become too frequent for his safety. one of Samaranch's wife's cousins, a doctor living in It would be an ideal place to stay. He had only to Lausanne, had a suitable property for rent. His daughter obtain residency permits for himself and those close to also became Lopez's secretary. him, and settle his family and fortune in a safe place. When I left the IOC in 1985 the offices were spread Besides, on the death of Franco it would make an ideal over six different sites in the City, and two runners were place to stay in the run-up to a change of government needed to take files from one place to another. which would inevitably bring the Socialists to power in In order to improve his corporate image amongst the Spain. Reassuring the authorities, and guaranteeing to locals, Samaranch appointed a personal adviser 'for maintain the Headquarters in Lausanne, was just an Swiss affairs'. This was a young politician who, having overture to resolving his personal problems. served as a town councillor had been defeated in recent elections. Paid by the IOC, he organised meetings for From 1972 Lord Killanin Samaranch with city and Canton notables whilst at the presided over the same time pursuing his political career, thus enabling Chateau deVidy. His him shortly afterwards to be elected a State Deputy in right-hand woman: Vaud. To him fell the task of facing up to those Lausanne IOC Director Monique citizens who were opposed to more construction around Berlioux. the Chateau de Vidy. He had to sweet-talk the ecologists (a group to which this man belonged) who did not Photo: Albert Riethausen want to see the parkland tarmacked over when there were other alots available. Agreement was obtained, however. Pedro Ram'rezVasquez, Member of the IOC for Mexico, and a famous architect, had volunteered his help in drawing up plans for new Headquarters. Local laws did not permit a foreigner to be in charge however and so Once he became President, in July 1980, his links with it was that the deal fell to a native Lausanne architect. the Lausanne authorities multiplied. Using the income Once the available land had been measured it became from television rights, which continued to rise, he apparent that it could not house the entire secretariat. committed the IOC for the long-term, buying property. The overflow would be accommodated at , three A loan on 'advantageous' conditions was obtained and kilometres away, where the IOC planned to construct a the concrete was poured. museum and Olympic Studies Centre, at its own cost. The Chateau de Vidy having become too small, other With temporary exhibitions at the museum on premises were needed to house members of staff. Swiss themes, free film showings for the population, Eventually the Municipality found a villa not far from an Olympic Week for the youth of the Canton, the Vidy, but close to the abattoirs. nomination of Lausanne as "the Olympic City", an The Olympic Museum had been closed since the new exhibition during the annual national fair known as offices had been setup at Vidy. In effect the municipal the 'Comptoir', Samaranch used the IOC's purse to architects would not allow members of the public to heap benefits on Lausanne. In this way he hoped to be enter Mon-Repos, which was in danger of collapse, and elected, as de Coubertin had been, an Honorary Citizen. no other premises were offered. An inventory had been B u t the city turn ed a d eaf ear. drawn up, the objects packed away in cases, and the In 201 U, on the proposal of its current President, various bits of furniture belonging to de Coubertin had (Germany), the IOC Session agreed the been stacked up, waiting for better days. construction of an imposing building covering 2.a Samaranch wanted the Museum re-opened as quickly hectares in the park surrounding the Chateau de Vidy as possible. He rented a building not far from the railway of which 1.6 istoacccommodate i+50 members of staff, station which was set up as a provisional Museum. numerous meeting rooms and various other facilities. He also decided to transfer there the document and The cost is estimated at 1600 million Swiss francs. film libraries, and gave charge of it to Swiss member Designed by a Danish firm of architects, it is due to be , who had recently retired as director ready in 2013 . ■