Alluding to the New England Journal of Medicine report
released Wednesday, NBC's Kelly O'Donnell examined the "darker
side" of gymnastics and questioned whether elite training
programs are "pushing kids way too far" ("NBC Nightly News,"
7/25).... President Clinton and the First Lady were interviewed
by NBC's Bob Costas at the conclusion of last night's coverage.
Clinton said federal financial support for future Games is
"possible" if the role "were clearly defined and clearly
something that could be done without interrupting the way the
Olympics have been operated in the past." ... Thursday night's
Olympic coverage on NBC was dedicated to ABC Exec Producer Jack
O'Hara, who was killed on board TWA Flight 800 (NBC, 7/25)....For
the first time, IOC members will participate in a memorial
service for the Israeli athletes killed in Munich. Sponsored by
the Atlanta Jewish Federation, the service will be held Sunday
(THE DAILY)....ACOG has 1,500 rooms at premium hotels available
that have been returned by sponsors and their families (ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 7/26)....Bob Siegel, a transportation planner for
the Salt Lake City engineering firm Eckoff, Watson & Preator
notes that even though the 2002 Games will be smaller than
Atlanta, the city may need even more buses since, "the farthest
venue for Atlanta is about average for Salt Lake" and that road
conditions in winter will be worse (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE,
7/26)....According to a Quinnipiac College Poll, 75% of New
Yorkers want the Olympics to come to their city in 2008, but only
44% feel it's a good idea to build a new stadium on the West Side
to attract the Games and retain the Yankees (NEWSDAY, 7/24).