IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch said that in the
wake of the current bribery "scandal," the IOC "must accept
that the system needs to change" and that it "can't continue
like this," according to an AP report. Samaranch said that
he is "not happy with the way of selecting organizing cities
for the games," and proposed changes to the process "several
times." Samaranch: "But it's not easy to ask members to
agree to cut off their own heads" (AP, 12/21). Samaranch
said a new selection process "could be in place by next
summer," when the host of the 2006 Winter Games is chosen.
If it is successful, the same selection system would be used
to award the 2008 Summer Games (TORONTO STAR, 12/21).
POUND FOR POUND: In Denver, Bruce Finley wrote that IOC
VP Dick Pound said he is "deadly serious" about the "votes-
for-sale scandal" in Salt Lake City. Pound: "We're sick and
tired of being looked at sideways. I'm tired of the jokes.
... And if we have to do some surgery, we'll do the
surgery." Finley wrote that a five-member commission was
formed to "draw IOC ethical guidelines more clearly -- and
maybe even change the system" (DENVER POST, 12/20). In
N.Y., Christopher Clarey wrote that Pound is a "potential
candidate for the I.O.C. presidency" if Samaranch "ever sees
fit to vacate the post" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/20).
SPONSOR REAX: The AP's Matthew Brown wrote that some
corporate sponsors "agree the mounting allegations make them
uneasy about their investment," and that they "have urged
Olympic officials to ... fix any problems that threaten to
tarnish the image" of the Games. Coca-Cola spokesperson Ben
Deutch: "We've expressed our concerns and [the IOC] assured
us they will take swift and decisive action." Delta Air
Lines spokesperson Bill Berry: "We are very concerned that
the Olympics keep the proper perspective and any allegation
raises a concern." US West spokesperson Randy Lynch: "We
make large, significant investments in the Olympic brand, so
whenever there are issues around those ideals and standards,
that concerns us" (AP, 12/20).
