Olympics: Four arrested in Slovenia over Vanessa Mae scam

[roamer]

Olympics: Four arrested in Slovenia over Vanessa Mae scam

LJUBLJANA: Slovenia's ski association has suspended four officials for manipulating race results to allow famed violinist Vanessa Mae to compete at the Winter Olympics in Sochi in February.

The 35-year-old Mae, racing under the name Vanessa Vanakorn, came last in the Olympic giant slalom on February 18 but made headlines as Thailand's first ever female skier at Olympic Games and lent an added dose of glamour to the sports event.

In a report late Thursday, the ski association (SZS) said it had found evidence that races held in Slovenia earlier this year had been fixed to make sure Vanakorn could travel to Sochi.

The fixing was done at the request of Thai officials, the SZS added.

The four suspects in the scam, who face suspensions of up to four years, included Vlado Makuc, head of alpine skiing at the SZS, the federation also said.

Read More: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/olympics-four-arrested-in/1255010.html

--Channel Newsasia 2014-07-11

[saakura]

Very shameful if this is true.

[mrtoad]

Theres a surprise. Anyway shes still fit

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[mesquite]

Officials from Thailand and an Eastern block country, corrupt. No surprise here.

[Basil B]

Well here we go again...

Thailand could pay bribes to ensure someone who does not even live in Thailand can compete in a sport to which the vast amount of Thai's will not even understand, most will never see real snow in their entire lives, but they could not afford to would not pay the rice farmers, shameful.

I hope the junta investigate where the money came from.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/winter-olympics/28260533

Still think Vanessa is wonderful, but best she stick with her musical career.

Edited July 11, 2014 by Basil B

[ggold]

Officials from Thailand and an Eastern block country, corrupt. No surprise here.

I wonder what incentives were offered from the Thai officials?

[mrtoad]

Officials from Thailand and an Eastern block country, corrupt. No surprise here.

I wonder what incentives were offered from the Thai officials?

What its famous for?

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[Oziex1]

Officials from Thailand and an Eastern block country, corrupt. No surprise here.

And corruption in the Olympics, No surprise there either.

[h90]

Officials from Thailand and an Eastern block country, corrupt. No surprise here.

Slovenia wasn't Eastern Bloc, they were non-aligned

[shaggy1969]

With Vanessa Vanakorn Mae being a violinist and the rest of them on the fiddle........What a lovely quintet.

[plachon]

Yes, it's a pity that there appears to have been skull-duggery used in getting Vanessa Mae to the Olympics.

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/alpine-skiing-ski-officials-suspended-rules-breach-vanessa-114057532--ski.html

It explains why she finished a full 50 seconds behind the next last competitor, and it was a miracle she finished at all. While I saw her as a bit of an Eddie the Eagle entry, at least he got there on his own merits, and I believe, largely his own coin. It does nothing for her reputation or that of the Olympics officials concerned. Will there be any consequences I wonder?

[surangw]

its not a sports venue, its a money maker for all involved

[ChrisY1]

My favorite musician.....tangled up with a few useless corrupt Thai officials......and they got caught!.....!

I did wonder why she competed under the Thai banner...........I guess it's clearer now!

[bigbamboo]

At least she isn't Thai any more.

[ATF]

Who gives a toss. It's all a load of %^*$#@)* anyway.

[3NUMBAS]

scam violin lessons now ?? someones on the fiddle i see

[taony]

The thing is the olympic committee was trying to make it easy to have competitors from non-traditional countries. There were so many other competitors from countries with no snow, uganda, brazil, etc. Don't know why she needed she couldn't have found a more legit way to get in.

Oh, and four arrested in Slovenia. How many will be arrested in Thailand??

I know the answer...

Edited July 11, 2014 by taony

[Phatcharanan]

Who gives a toss. It's all a load of %^*$#@)* anyway.

A well thought out and constructed response.

Edited July 11, 2014 by Phatcharanan

[Westaurel]

She's an english citizen with Thai origin by her father.

Just hope she didn't know that her results were manipulated in her back !

Because if she's convicted of being a comparse of this fraud, her name should be stained.

In all cases, the prejudice isn't big because she don't get any awards or medals she could lose !

[Jeremy50]

Yes, it's a pity that there appears to have been skull-duggery used in getting Vanessa Mae to the Olympics.

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/alpine-skiing-ski-officials-suspended-rules-breach-vanessa-114057532--ski.html

It explains why she finished a full 50 seconds behind the next last competitor, and it was a miracle she finished at all. While I saw her as a bit of an Eddie the Eagle entry, at least he got there on his own merits, and I believe, largely his own coin. It does nothing for her reputation or that of the Olympics officials concerned. Will there be any consequences I wonder?

50 seconds behind the winner. Anyone who has ever skied down a World Cup GS course will know how hard it is. Just sheet ice. Beyond the ability of any recreational skier or even entry level instructors.

She did well, but Thailand should probably just forget about snow sports. That also includes trying to climb Everest.

[Prbkk]

What a disappointment, I admired her for "having a go " and coming last. Seems nothing is truly honest in sport these days.

[Puwa]

Thailand is definitely the most entertaining country in the world.

[UbonRatch]

All Thai girls love snow... yet they hate the cold. Can't quite for out of Vanessa played in B flat most of the time, or A major... I think it must have been B flat on your back, judging by her skiiing results. Famous my arse,,, she's now known for fiddling though.

[Payboy]

But a Thai at the winter games must've brought happiness to the people, yes.

[UbonRatch]

What a disappointment, I admired her for "having a go " and coming last. Seems nothing is truly honest in sport these days.

Go way with you. Eddie the Eagle was top notch for his attempt... and he landed... albeit 40m away from where he started 555+

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7MmJIy0bjo&feature=kp

Give him his due... he didn't pay to enter.... mind you, hardly surprising. We don't have 120m drops from mountains in GB, unless you want to jump off the sharp side of Snowdon.

Eddie was honest.. but SH!t...

Edited July 11, 2014 by UbonRatch

[mrtoad]

She's an english citizen with Thai origin by her father.

Just hope she didn't know that her results were manipulated in her back !

Because if she's convicted of being a comparse of this fraud, her name should be stained.

In all cases, the prejudice isn't big because she don't get any awards or medals she could lose !

I believe Singaporean to.

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[mrtoad]

What a disappointment, I admired her for "having a go " and coming last. Seems nothing is truly honest in sport these days.

I doubt she even knew. She still had a go as far as I am concerned

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[James207]

^{Why does the title say that they were arrested then the article say that they were suspended?}

[Artisi]

What a disappointment, I admired her for "having a go " and coming last. Seems nothing is truly honest in sport these days.

Well it is the Olympics, nothing more needs to be said.

[JesseFrank]

Why can Thailand never achieve anything worth talking about without corruption being involved ?

Wait, I'm gonna sit down to watch the pink goggle brigade slag me off for this one.