CANADA
The Tyee
By BOB MACKIN
Published October 28, 2013
A strategy to rescue the bruised reputation of John Furlong, who was the CEO of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, unfolded throughout Monday.
Global TV’s regional channel promoted a one-on-one interview of Furlong by anchor Chris Gailus for 7 p.m. Monday evening as Furlong’s first such appearance since he was accused 13 months ago of abusing aboriginal children.
The interview was recorded in the Gastown office of Furlong’s public relations representative, Twenty Ten Group, and was set to air the day after the Vancouver Whitecaps’ ended their 2013 season. CTV national anchor Lisa LaFlamme also conducted an interview with Furlong, the executive chairman of the Bell-sponsored Major League Soccer club.
Almost five hours before the scheduled 30-minute program, Global reported that the RCMP cleared Furlong of allegations he abused Beverly Abraham when she was a child under his care at a Burns Lake school for aboriginal children in 1969 and 1970. Furlong had come to Canada from his native Ireland as an 18-year-old Catholic missionary and taught physical education at Immaculata Elementary School.
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