The son of the former IAAF president Lamine Diack is at the heart of a corruption racket that involved vote buying for the Olympics, says the French financial prosecutor. Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016 are under investigation.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Y. Chiba
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In a statement released on Tuesday, the financial prosecutor’s office said: "The investigations revealed a large-scale system of corruption around Papa Massata Diack, son of Lamine Diack, IAAF president and influential members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)."
"There are several consistent indications that payments have been made in return for the votes of IAAF and International Olympic Committee members over the designation of host cities for the biggest global sporting events," it added.
Papa Massata Diack is at the center of the investigationImage: Getty Images/AFP/Seyllou
Lamine Diack was arrested in 2015 in the incident that began the now two-year-old probe in to corruption in sports.
That probe has now branched into several investigations and has expanded beyond the IAAF to look at suspicions of possible vote-buying in the awarding of sports events, and involved law enforcement agencies beyond France.
Home raids for Brazilian officials
While the investigations were initially concerned with the Tokyo Games, the 2016 Olympics in Brazil is also under the microscope.
Lamine Diack was arrested in 2015 as part of a corruption probeImage: picture-alliance/dpa/W.Hong
Earlier on Tuesday, federal police searched the house of the president of the Brazilian Olympic committee and issued a warrant forcing him to testify in an investigation into bribery surrounding the awarding of the Games in the country.
Police said detention warrants had been issued for Carlos Nuzman and his associate, Arthur Cesar de Menezes Soares Filho.
Nuzman’s lawyer Sergio Mazzillo said his client was innocent and would cooperate with inquiries.
"I can confirm that (Nuzman) did not commit any irregularity," Mazzillo said. "Unfortunately, this has created a media spectacle."
In total, 11 detention warrants were issued for people in both Brazil and France in what police dubbed "Operation Unfair Play."
mp (Reuters, AP)
New sports for Olympics in Tokyo
The International Olympic Committee has announced the new sports that will be part of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo . Some of the sports will make their debuts, while others will make their triumphant return.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/MAXPPP
Sports climbing
It is not just a gym sport anymore! Tokyo 2020 will feature the first sports climbing events. The sport will have five events for men and women, including bouldering, lead and speed. The events could take place in urban Tokyo, and 474 athletes will be able to compete.
Image: picture alliance/Kyodo/MAXPPP
Baseball, softball
The bats are back! The round ones at least. Baseball (men's) and softball (women's) were taken off the Olympic menu for the 2012 Olympic games in London, but both will make their return two Olympics later. Organizing committe chief Yoshiro Mori described baseball as "almost our national sport," but the potential lack of US-based stars has raised some concerns.
Image: picture alliance/AP Images/A. Behrman
Karate
Hiya! Karate will be on the Olympic roster, debuting in the same region the fighting style was created. The sport has been divided in the modern era, but are to unite, with men's and women's events for contact (kumite) and non-contact (kata) styles of karate.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/MAXPPP
Skateboarding
Snowboarding is already a popular event in the winter games, and now skateboarding will get its chance to shine. Tokyo 2020 will have two street and two park events and will feature 40 athletes (20 men, 20 women) for each.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/N.Bothma
Surfing
Tokyo 2020 will be hanging ten! The new event will take place in the sea and will feature 20 athletes for each genders. International federation president Fernando Aguerre called the inclusion "game-changing", saying: "We are already seeing increased popularity of the sport across the world and the Olympic Games will provide an incredible platform to further showcase surfing."
