IOC Marketing Dir Michael Payne said yesterday's
actions by the IOC "will rebuild sponsors' confidence in the
system." He said that with the action, Salt Lake City 2002
execs should have time to raise enough sponsorship support
to meet their $1.45B budget, but if they don't, cuts will
have to be made, as the IOC "revenues already are committed
to sports-programs worldwide" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/25).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Stefan Fatsis reports that after
yesterday's IOC report, "sponsors were cautious. Some said
they wouldn't comment until the IOC took further action."
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance President David
D'Alessandro: "What (the IOC) has done basically is bought
time. Now we're going to see whether this is a
metamorphosis beginning to take place or whether they ...
return to their old ways." Xerox Dir of Olympic Marketing
Terry Dillman: "It's a good start. But it's certainly not
the finish line" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/25).
SAMARANCH SAFE FOR NOW? Samaranch said yesterday he
"never considered resigning as an option. My hope is to
leave for my successor a reformed IOC with the prestige it
deserves" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/25). In Calgary, George Gross
writes that Samaranch "will have to continue to act
swiftly." He adds that there might "be behind-the-scenes
manoeuvering to force Samaranch out before his term expires
in 2001. Dissidents couldn't do it in the past because
Samaranch's position was strong" (CALGARY SUN, 1/25). The
FINANCIAL TIMES' Harverson & Burns: "No prominent IOC
figures have publicly called for Mr. Samaranch's removal,
which suggests he retains the support of the people that
matter" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 1/25). A FINANCIAL TIMES
editorial states that calls for Samaranch's resignation "are
surely justified," as he "must take prime responsibility"
for the system (FINANCIAL TIMES, 1/25). In Toronto, Bert
Roiughton, Jr.: "Despite calls for Samaranch's head as the
bidding scandal has unfolded, the IOC president seems to
have strengthened his grip on power" (TORONTO STAR, 1/24).
The FINANCIAL TIMES' Patrick Harverson: "Speculation is
mounting that some senior IOC figures angered by Samaranch's
failure to control the excesses of members ... will ask [him
to resign]." The "final word on whether he stays or goes
may well rest" with the Olympic sponsors (FINANCIAL TIMES,
1/23). In Toronto, Randy Starkman writes that the scandal
is "far from over" and what the IOC "needs is someone
without Samaranch's baggage to restore the confidence of the
public" (TORONTO STAR, 1/25). Also in Toronto, Ken Fidlin:
"The sooner he's gone, the sooner the healing can begin"
(TORONTO SUN, 1/25). In DC, Michael Wilbon: "If a new day is
going to dawn in the IOC, Samaranch has to go. If not, this
whole thing is a sham and waste of our time" (WASHINGTON
POST, 1/25). ESPN's Mike Lupica, who likened the IOC to
organized crime: "I wasn't aware that the five rings meant
the five families." Lupica added that Samaranch must step
down: "Eventually, there will be a cry for this" ("The
Sports Reporters," 1/24). Former USOC President Robert
Helmick wrote an op-ed for Sunday's N.Y. TIMES stating that
"nothing short of the departure" of Samaranch and "his close
associates will allow the sweeping changes needed to restore
public confidence in the Olympic Games" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/24).
Before yesterday's report, USOC Exec Dir Dick Schultz said
Samaranch could face a "palace revolt" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/23).
WAS PROBE "MOTIVATED" BY ELECTION? USA TODAY's Mike
Dodd reports that despite the report, the IOC's "journey is
still uphill." He notes that three members implicated "have
suggested the probe was motivated in part by members eyeing
the 2001 election" to succeed Samaranch. Dodd: "That race
is wide open, and four members of the inquiry panel are
considered possible candidates" (USA TODAY, 1/25).
WHAT ABOUT POUND? In Toronto, Randy Starkman wrote that
Pound's investigation "will likely make or break any future
bid by him to become president of the IOC. Some think Pound
is being set up to fail. ... Others believe the IOC will
have no choice but to anoint him if he can extricate the
organization from the biggest ethics crisis it's ever
faced." While he was viewed as "the natural heir" to
Samaranch, "there is a feeling in some quarters his star has
dimmed and his supporters fear he has always acted too
independently to have a chance" (TORONTO STAR, 1/23).
NOTES: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes that NBC News "has
done a good job reporting" on the Olympic scandal despite
the network's investment in the Games. But he adds that NBC
News "has not yet reported" on the role of NBC Sports Senior
VP and IOC member Alex Giladi (N.Y. POST, 1/25)....One of
the two companies who put a possible Olympic sponsorship on
hold is reportedly BMW (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/23).
