Briefly describe the relevant facts of the case.
On June 16, 1995 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the selection of Salt Lake City, Utah as the site for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. On November 23, 1998 the media made known to the public the possibility of a scandal involving the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) and the IOC. The allegations against the SLOC included a scholarship and international assistance program that awarded scholarships totaling $400,000 to thirteen students who were relatives of IOC members. The SLOC allegedly was also trying to influence votes by providing free plastic surgery, health care, shopping sprees, ski weekends, first-class air travel, luxury accommodations, fur coats, and other expensive gifts to IOC members and their families. Some of the gifts included $10,000 worth of guns and rifles made by Browning, a Utah-based firearms maker. It was reported that a shotgun and rifle were sent to the IOC president just one month before Salt Lake City was awarded the 2002 bid. The shipment had been made at the request of the SLOC. The total value of the gifts exceeded more than $1 million. As a result of this alleged scandal one of the main sponsors, US West, delayed $5 million worth of sponsorship monies. This placed the total necessary amount of sponsorship in doubt of being met. Because of this, the SLOC signed a contract stating that the state of Utah and its taxpayers would cover any deficit that the city could not cover.
2. Identify the major issues in the case.
The primary issues included bribery, unethical behavior, and corruption. The primary issues were the monetary and non-monetary favors that the SLOC provided in order to gain the advantage in winning the hosting contract for 2002. SLOC's desperation to win, after 30 years of campaigning, pushed Welch and other committee members to use unethical practices in order to gain favoritism (cash, charities contributions, travel & accommodations, gifts, tuitions).