Jennings says Samaranch has a lot ot answer for

He continues: "If you look back at the evaluation commission they set up to go around the five cities, looking at transportation, budgeting, and venues.

"The one thing they were specifically banned on is human rights. There we have this great moral IOC but when it came to a moral issue they ducked it.

"They wanted to make sure the Games did go to Beijing because that is what their sponsors wanted.

"If they repressed any reasonable debate about human rights, they could make it happen."

Bleak picture

Jennings paints a bleak picture of Samaranch's regime, who is widely credited with turning Olympic fortunes around in the last two decades.

And the investigative writer claims the Spaniard's legacy is a sad and despairing one.

"When he came to power doping was a small problem in sport," he argues.

"Instead of addressing the problem with a mixture of education and penalties, Samaranch preferred to pretend it wasn't there.

Jennings even reckons that the very empire that Samaranch built up could come crumbling down if more positive steps are not taken towards drugs testing and anti-drug testing.

Will Rogge herald a new era for the IOC?

"A survey done of young people around the world immediately after the Sydney Games came up with the stark picture that young people are turning away with degree of cynicism from the IOC.

"The sponsors will have read that and it may be that all the money everyone talks about will move on to other sports events.

"If the sponsors can't sell an image of a clean Games, the money will disappear."

Jennings admits that new Belgian supremo Rogge appears to be 'clean', but doubts he can improve things.

"When the next corruption scandal comes, will he try and cover up like his predecessor?

"Or will he say 'we have a problem, we are going to deal with it in public?'"