VANCOUVER — John Furlong, the man who helmed the Vancouver Olympics, has categorically denied allegations that he physically abused aboriginal students as a teacher at two northern B.C. schools decades ago, and says he plans to sue.
The allegations that Furlong hit and kicked students and verbally abused them during his time as a physical education teacher in the late 1960s and early 1970s appeared Thursday in the free Vancouver weekly Georgia Straight.
Within hours, Furlong held a news conference with his lawyer to announce legal action.
“I categorically deny absolutely any wrongdoing and I believe that the RCMP in looking into this matter will discredit the complaint entirely because it just did not happen,” Furlong told reporters.
Furlong said it was “very troubling” to read the article and the “very serious, unfounded allegations.”
The newspaper story cites eight students whose claims include that he used his foot to slam one of them down on the floor, kicked another in the buttocks, hit one person with a hockey stick and another with a yard stick, and slapped or punched them on the front or the back of the head.
One person suggested he called them “good for nothing Indians,” and another said he suffered repeated beatings.
Furlong was a teacher at two Catholic schools in northern B.C., but although he has frequently spoken about his arrival as an immigrant to Canada in 1974, he has not been public about his earlier work at the schools and did not mention his work there in the autobiography released following the 2010 Games.
The former Olympic chief said he is proud of the work he has done with First Nations and his time in the north.
He suggested he didn’t include his time at the school in his book, Patriot Hearts, because the book was dedicated to the buildup and execution of the 2010 Winter Games.
Marvin Storrow, Furlong’s lawyer, said Furlong’s time in the north is well known and he has many existing relationships in the communities in questions.
“Mr. Furlong bears no grudge against anyone, least of all students he coached and worked with, but now has no alternative but to use the courts to seek full and complete recourse for the damage that has been caused to him.”
Furlong suggested there is a “personal vendetta” on the part of the reporter, Laura Robinson.
Robinson could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Georgia Straight posted a statement on its website saying Storrow did not make Furlong available to respond to Robinson’s questions.
“She also attempted without success to reach Mr. Furlong through his publisher, Douglas & McIntyre. Ms. Robinson was told that Mr. Furlong had ‘nothing more’ to say to her,” the statement said.
Furlong said that even before the Games began, he had spoken to the RCMP.
“On the very first occasion that this was brought to my attention prior to the Olympic Games, I was advised that for a payment it could be made to go away and, as such, I reported the matter to police,” a grim-faced Furlong said at a news conference at which he took no questions because the matter is now a matter for the courts.
RCMP confirmed they are aware of the allegations and are investigating, but would comment no further.