With the Opening Ceremonies less than a week away, the city
of Atlanta and its readiness for the '96 Games continues to be
the focus of national media coverage. In Houston, Mike Tolson
writes, "The pride of the New South is ready to welcome the
world. ... The city expects the reviews to be good, but good or
not, most Atlantans plan to smile all the way to the bank"
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/14). In Orlando, Nancy Feigenbaum asks
which image of Atlanta will remain after the Games: "Atlanta of
the Old South" or the Atlanta of "racial progress" (ORLANDO
SENTINEL, 7/14). In Philadelphia, Larry Copeland casts doubt
after the eternal question: "Will everything be ready in time?"
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/14). In New York, George Vecsey writes
simply, "Atlanta's time is here" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/14). In Chicago,
Dan Bickley writes ACOG "may have pulled off the impossible with
round-the-clock construction" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/15). In
L.A., Doug Cress writes, "Nobody's officially christened these
the 'Bubba-lympics' yet, but there's ... pleeeenty of time" (L.A.
TIMES, 7/14). In Boston, Barbara Huebner focuses on the heat
(BOSTON GLOBE, 7/14). NEWSDAY's John Jeansonne compares '96 to
'84, noting, "The impression is that Atlanta learned too well how
to spend the kind of money that L.A. taught it to raise"
(NEWSDAY, 7/14). ACOG Co-Chair Andrew Young: "We're trying hard
to develop from a poor underdeveloped South to a world class
city. The Olympics hopefully represents our transition" (CBS,
7/13).
BIG CHEESE WATCH: While IOC President Juan Antonio
Samaranch again spoke out against doping or drug use by athletes
upon arrival in Atlanta, the IOC's Executive Board adjourned
without developing a uniform drug policy (N.Y. TIMES, 7/15).
Several sports media writers call attention to tonight's expose
on Samaranch's tenure at the IOC by Frank Deford on HBO's "Real
Sports." In New York, Richard Sandomir writes, "Samaranch
appears to be an out-of-touch insensitive monarch, with talents
for circular logic and selective political perception" (N.Y.
TIMES, 7/15). But in Chicago, Michael Hirsley calls it "largely
a rehash of other reporters' work" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/15).
INTO THE FINAL WEEK: Atlanta Centennial Park opened, with
AP noting much of the space is taken up by corporate attractions
(ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/14)....NEWSWEEK has a 32-page guide to
the Games, with U.S. decathlete Dan O'Brien on the cover. Inside
are profiles of the top medal hopefuls (NEWSWEEK, 7/22
issue)....USA TODAY examines the claims of price gouging at
Atlanta hotels (USA TODAY, 7/15)..... Scalpers want up to $7,500
each for Opening Ceremonies tickets ($636). Dream Team tickets
($100) are going for $1,000 ("ET," 7/12)....The "American Dream"
feature on "NBC Nightly News" showcased ACOG CEO Billy Payne
(NBC, 7/12).
