In Utah, State Olympic Coordinator Tom Hardy "quit his
job" on Friday before he ever started, indicating that the
"prospects of working closely" with an SLOC led by CEO Frank
Joklik "does not appeal" to him, according to Mike Gorrell
of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. Hardy had been named to the new
post by UT Gov. Mike Leavitt, four days before SLOC
President Tom Welch resigned. Hardy: "Very honestly, right
now it seems to me that Mr. Joklik seems to have a hostility
to any oversight, government or otherwise." More Hardy:
"[Joklik] perceives himself as the savior who will make this
thing work. ... [SLOC] is going to be an environment that is
less open to suggestions of any oversight. It will probably
be an organization very controlling about the information it
disperses and those are all trends other than in the right
direction." Joklik "dismissed" Hardy's statements, "citing
his repeated pledges to improve SLOC's relationship with the
state, and to build a 'meaningful partnership.'" But
Gorrell added the recent developments have "troubled" state
officials. UT Senate President Lane Beattie: "There isn't a
person in the Legislature who isn't concerned about what's
going on with the Olympics" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 9/20).
