Under scrutiny over failed Montreal bid
Death shocks swim coach, athletes

Miro Cernetig
Quebec Bureau Chief

MONTREAL�In his last days, Yvon DesRochers was an embattled man, avoiding friends, reporters and questions about what sank a multi-million-dollar international swim meet he wanted to bring to Montreal this summer.

Yesterday, Montreal's sporting world was shocked when it learned police had found DesRochers' body in the front seat of his Mercedes on a busy street.

It is believed the 59-year-old organizer, well connected to the federal Liberals, committed suicide. Radio-Canada said a gun was found beside the body.

"I was in a state of shock," Michel Barouche, a well-known swim coach, told CBC. "The athletes here were extremely surprised as well. So all that we can do is to wish his family good luck and we will support them in their grief."

DesRochers, chief executive officer of the organizing committee for July's 2005 World Aquatic Championships in Montreal, had been under intense scrutiny after the F�d�ration International de Natation (FINA) stripped Montreal of the prestigious event last month. It was expected to be the largest sporting event since the 1976 Olympics, bringing in 2,000 athletes and creating more than $80 million in economic spin-offs for the city.

"We want to underline all the dedication Mr. DesRochers gave as head of the championships," Marc Belanger, vice-president of the organizing committee, said in a statement.

But reports began leaking out a month ago that the event was floundering and questions were raised about the leadership of DesRochers, who had been recruited in 2002 to run the event by former Liberal cabinet minister Francis Fox.

Despite $16.5 million in government support and a similar amount pumped in by Quebec, DesRochers and organizers had fallen short in raising money from corporate sponsors. They expected to raise about $12 million in private funding but managed to attract only a few hundred thousand dollars for the event, scheduled from July 17-31.

While DesRochers has not been connected to any wrongdoing, pressure was growing for him to be called before the House of Commons' public accounts committee.

put on line by SVP