In a piece in the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE comparing the financial
challenges of Atlanta '96 to Salt Lake 2002, SLOC Chair Tom Welch
commented on the commercialism in Atlanta: "Any city, if they
have the money, would like to do the 'look of the Games' in a
non-commercial way. I'm not critical, but I'm not sold on the
approach they're taking" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/16)....SI Asst
Managing Editor Jerry Kirschenbaum, on the "firewall" between the
editorial and business side at SI (an official sponsor): "If we
feel the Olympic Committee needs to be criticized, we'll
criticize" (MEDIAWEEK, 7/15 issue)....Pete Sampras and Steffi
Graf withdrew from the Games due to injuries (Mult., 7/17)....USA
TODAY examines the number of murders within Atlanta's Olympic
ring in '96 (USA TODAY, 7/17)....Olympic officials will not allow
Brazilian soccer fans to bring most larger samba drums into the
Orange Bowl (MIAMI HERALD, 7/17).... Projected taxpayer losses
from soccer matches at Orlando's Florida Citrus Bowl from Olympic
soccer could hit anywhere from $9,100 to $226,300. Promoters
hope for as many as 10,000 walk-up sales (ORLANDO SENTINEL,
7/17)...."NBC Nightly News" noted a BBC documentary airing this
week estimates 75% or more of track and field athletes competing
in Atlanta will be taking an illegal substance (NBC, 7/16).
YOU GO, GIRLS: Prime preview coverage of female athletes in the
Games continues. The L.A. TIMES' special pull-out section has
14-year-old swimmer Amanda Beard and 35-year-old cyclist Connie
Paraskevin-Young on the cover (L.A. TIMES, 7/14). The HOUSTON
CHRONICLE notes, "This is already being called the year women
take over the Olympics" (Greg Hassell, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/17).
ESPN's Jack Edwards said the U.S. Women's Soccer Team is "one
team to watch" during the Games ("SportsCenter Preview," 7/16).
And in USA TODAY's Olympic cover story, Donna Devarona calls the
Games the "Super Bowl for women" (USA TODAY, 7/17).
