OSAKA — The Osaka Municipal Government has canceled a public relations trip to an International Olympic Committee meeting in Seoul later this month.
Nearly 50 city officials, including senior officials of the Osaka Olympic bid committee, had planned to attend the IOC general assembly meeting in order to promote the city's bid for the 2008 Olympics.
However, late last month, it was revealed that the officials were not able to procure tickets for the event and would not be able to meet with IOC officials directly.
A city spokesman said Monday that the trip was canceled in order to prevent "misunderstandings" by IOC officials in the wake of the Salt Lake City bribery scandal. At the Seoul meeting, the IOC will discuss new guidelines for cities bidding for the 2008 Games and subsequent ones.
In October, Osaka will host the General Association of International Sports Federations' meeting, which is to include numerous IOC members. The IOC has yet to determine if its members will be allowed to attend the Osaka meeting.