With 366 days remaining before next year's Opening
Ceremonies, Bryant Gumbel hosted "Today" from Atlanta this
morning, setting up just outside of the evolving Olympic Stadium.
Gumbel hosted a variety of guests and featured Atlanta's
preparation, profiling both venue sites and local attractions.
Gumbel's first guest was ACOG Co-Chair and Former Atlanta Mayor
Andrew Young. Young said the Games will mean more to Atlanta
than just economic growth: "It means Atlanta and the American
South will finally be recognized as the real U.S.A." Gumbel
interviewed Bill Moss, Managing Dir of ACOG Construction, from
inside the Olympic Stadium. Moss, who also managed the EPCOT
Center project, was optimistic that sites will be completed on-
time and on-budget. Gumbel also featured the Olympic T-Shirt
Auction, the Centennial Olympic Park Brick purchase program, and
hosted Spurgeon Richardson, President of the Atlanta Convention
and Visitors Bureau. Under intense questioning, Richardson
maintained that visitors will be able to book hotel rooms for
reasonable prices. Also featured: Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Summer
Sanders, Bela Karyoli, a local chef specializing in Southern
Cooking and Olympic Mascot Izzy (NBC, 7/19). Last night, ESPN's
Bob Sirkin also reported on Atlanta's preparations. Among the
challenges facing organizers: financing and traffic
("SportsCenter," 7/18).
