Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates said it
is unlikely the IOC would take the 2000 Games away from Sydney
despite "uncertainty over financing." On Sunday, IOC President
Juan Antonio Samaranch told the Sydney Sun-Herald he was
concerned the New South Wales state government "was not fully
behind the Games." Coates in an interview with ABC radio: "They
can (take the games away), but it is not likely. There are
contractual obligations which have to be met" (AP/SAN FRANCISCO
EXAMINER, 5/29). In Boston, John Powers reports that
construction is behind schedule and that taxpayers may have to
pay $600M (Aus) to "bail out an event that is supposed to break
even" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/28).
WHO'S AHEAD FOR 2002? In Toronto, George Gross reports that
the loss of the Nordiques "hasn't reduced the enthusiasm" of
Quebec City officials. In fact, they are so confident that they
will win the 2002 Winter bid that they have arranged
international coverage of the IOC's June 16 decision (TORONTO
SUN, 5/30). But John Powers reports that the "Olympic world"
takeit for granted that Salt Lake is a "lock" for 2002. But he
notes, "The Lords of the Rings tend to be quirky around voting
time" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/28).
BEIJING LEADING IN CAPETOWN RACES: Cape Town, South Africa,
hopes to capitalize on its hosting of the 1995 Rugby World Cup to
put its campaign for the 2004 Summer Games "back on track,"
according to the FINANCIAL TIMES. The departure of Raymond
Ackerman as the head of Cape Town's bid committee has caused the
city's "dream to begin to unravel" (Keith Wheatley, FINANCIAL
TIMES, 5/28).
