UTAH: The SLOC is set to announce today that Mitt
Romney will become the organization's new CEO (SALT LAKE
TRIBUNE, 2/11). MSG President Dave Checketts called Romney
the "perfect person" for the job and said that one
"challenge" for Romney is "unifying Mormons and non-Mormons
in support" of the Games (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 2/11). John
Hancock's David D'Alessandro, on Romney: "He won't tolerate
much nonsense. It's a great move" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/11).
MORE FALLOUT: One day after the SLOC ethics board
investigation noted additional abuses in the bid process,
the IOC issued a statement saying it "remains fully
committed to investigating and taking action based on all
available evidence" (AP, 2/11). But a N.Y. POST editorial
wonders, "How much more embarrassment can the IOC take
before it insists upon a serious clean-up effort?" (N.Y.
POST, 2/11). A WASHINGTON POST editorial credits the SLOC
for a "credible" investigation, but adds, "The same cannot
be said of the [IOC], which seems as always dedicated to
damage control and self-preservation. The [USOC] too seems
stuck in a state of denial" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/11). The
L.A. TIMES editorializes that IOC "change will take time,
but it must start now. A good beginning would be
Samaranch's resignation" (L.A. TIMES, 2/11). USA TODAY's
Christine Brennan writes, "One has to wonder by the time the
last investigation is over if any of the 115 (IOC members)
will be left standing" (USA TODAY, 2/11).
2012: The Dallas City Council defeated a measure that
asked for a public referendum on whether the city should
pursue the 2012 Summer Games (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/11).
....FL Gov. Jeb Bush proposed spending $12.5M on
transportation projects in an effort that could boost Tampa-
Orlando's bid for the 2012 Games (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 2/11).
