THE GIFT OF GAB: ACOG PRESIDENT BILLY PAYNE TALKS

     ACOG President Billy Payne broke his "post-Games silence"
Wednesday before 300 Atlanta Commerce Club members, according to
Lyle Harris of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION.  Payne's address marked
the sixth anniversary of the city's selection as Olympic host.
Payne "took a swipe" at unnamed Olympic opportunists he said saw
the Games as a chance to get rich quick, and he "raked" the
media, "particularly the foreign press," for focusing on ACOG's
transportation system and computerized results system.  Payne:
"They seemed oblivious to the true celebration of the Olympic
spirit that was taking place right outside their window."  He
also hinted that IOC President' Juan Antonio Samaranch's
reference to the Atlanta Games as "most exceptional" instead of
"the greatest" was a result of the European press's importance to
the IOC (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 9/19).