In the wake of the Atlanta bombing, organizers for Sydney
2000 will consider creating a "giant security zone" encompassing
all main venues (L.A. TIMES, 7/28). Sydney Organizing Committee
(SOGOC) CEO Mal Hemmerling: "The bombing has raised the spectre
of violence in the non-venue areas. We will go back and fully
review our plans." Because of the smaller size of the Winter
Games and Japanese government control of manpower and resources,
Nagano organizers feel "well-prepared" (SI OLYMPIC DAILY, 7/28).
For SOGOC, Atlanta "has been a sobering experience." One Sydney
official: "I don't think you realize the scale of the task until
you see it" (Nikki Tait, FINANCIAL TIMES, 7/27-28). Salt Lake
Committee spokesperson Mike Korologos: "These events certainly
have made an impact on our plans, but to what effect, we just
don't know yet." One thing that may be reconsidered in Salt Lake
is the plan to have public medal ceremonies (Steve Patterson,
CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/28).
COUNTDOWN TO 2004: BUSINESS WEEK profiles the bids for the
2004 Games, with a decision due in September '97. While Athens,
which lost out for '96, is taking a "low-key approach," the IOC
"favorites," according to a consensus of bid cities, are Rome,
Stockholm and Athens (BUSINESS WEEK, 8/5 issue). FINANCIAL
TIMES' Keith Wheatley notes that Cape Town, once thought a
"virtual certainty," has dropped to 3rd on one list -- that of
German newsletter, Sport Intern. That publication lists Rome
first, then Stockholm. However, St. Petersburg, Russia, with
facilities left over from the Goodwill Games could challenge
(FINANCIAL TIMES, 7/27-28).
BACK TO THE U.S. IN 2008? Bob Walsh, Exec Dir of Seattle's
committee to host the 2008 Summer Games, said the USOC encouraged
them to go forward despite the violence in Atlanta this past
weekend. A Seattle bid would combine with Portland and Vancouver
(SEATTLE TIMES, 7/28). Boston and Seattle are the only U.S.
cities to have organized bid committees for 2008, although New
York, Dallas/Houston, San Francisco and Chicago are all
considering bids. The Seattle committee has the support of some
of WA's top businesses, including Boeing and Microsoft, as well
as $50,000 in state money (Puget Sound BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/29
issue). New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said he would continue
exploring a possible 2008 bid, even as the Atlanta bombing left
New Yorkers "divided" over hosting the Games (NEWSDAY, 7/28).
NEW LOOK GAMES? In Colorado Springs, Ralph Routon writes,
"If there is an aftereffect, it might be new momentum for
splitting up the Summer Olympics, with different sports or
clusters of events in different cities." The issue that the Games
are "too large" will return, and "maybe that's true" (Co. Springs
GAZETTE TELEGRAPH, 7/28).
