For a moment in tonight's Off the Ball interview with one of the organisers of the One Zero Conference, it appeared that #BlameGilroy was about to cross over from a quirky, ironic hashtag to a genuine explanation for Armstrong's cancellation.
Several of those who purchased tickets for tomorrow's One Zero conference have criticised the decision of the conference organisers to refuse refunds.
One of the organisers, Richard Barrett said on Off the Ball tonight that Lance's late pullout was "disappointing" but added that there were 37 speakers in total and 36 of them would be speaking tomorrow. Nine months of work was coming to fruition.
He said there would be no refunds.
He said that it wasn't true to say that the conference had been advertised solely on the back of Lance Armstrong.
"We sold tickets on the basis that Glastonbury is about more than Beyonce. One Zero conference is about Lance... There are no refunds. This conference is about more than Lance."
And he went on to imply that he had problems with Ger Gilroy's Off the Ball interview with Lance Armstrong.
"We've been transparent from the start. Some of the our partners have not been. And if we want to get into it about soundbites then we can get into it..."
Gilroy said "go for it."
There was a brief pause.
Barrett: Ger, we set up an interview for you that was supposed to be 15 minutes. It was 40 minutes.
Gilroy: It was 30 minutes.
Barrett reminded Gilroy that he was moderating a discussion involving former candidate for the FIFA Presidency, Jamie Fuller.
Gilroy said that he would have assumed that Armstrong was the main draw for the conference. In a rather snippy exchange, Barrett suggested that this was disrespectful to the other speakers.
I think that's disrespectful to John Kavanagh. I think that's disrespectful to Jamie Fuller.
The interview ended with Gilroy alluding to the main promo image for the conference. The poster has photos Shane Lowry and Sir Clive Woodward with Lance Armstrong in the middle riding in his US Postal gear.
Barrett responded curtly.
Barrett: So, there are three speakers there.
Gilroy: Yeah
Barrett: Thank you
What's all this??? I was led to believe I'm the main attraction tomorrow anyway ???. See you at 9am @OneZeroCon #cantwait
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) October 20, 2016
After that, Ewan MacKenna, who has travelled back here from Brazil for the conference, appeared on the line. He disclosed that he's been in regular contact with Armstrong over the past few weeks. Lance has been ringing his house continually.
Well, you came up! (laughs) For the last few weeks, Lance has suddenly been calling my house in Brazil. And it got to the stage where... Like, my wife woke me up one morning and said "Lance Amstrong is on the phone."
A situation you would dream of in the past and you're kind of going "Jaysus, not again."
He tried to buddy up. He talked about your interview. He thought he was kind of 'whatever' in the 'whatever' by you.
And I think he was trying to befriend and make sure the same thing wouldn't happen.
MacKenna did add that he tried to play along and so he can't think why Armstrong would have cancelled.
#BlameGilroy
Listen to the interviews below:
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