NEW POLL SHOWS SLIPPAGE: A USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll
shows that 51% of those surveyed said their respect for the
Olympics "has declined" in the wake of the Salt Lake City
bid scandal. The national poll of 711 adults was conducted
on Tuesday. In addition, 23% say they're less likely to
watch broadcasts of the 2002 Games (USA TODAY, 2/12).
POUND FOR POUND: IOC VP Dick Pound is featured on the
cover of MACLEAN'S under the header, "Saving The Games."
Pound, on succeeding IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch:
"Some days, I have absolutely no interest in it at all.
Other days, I think that if you got to be in the centre
seat, then maybe you could do some interesting things"
(MACLEAN'S, 2/8 issue). In Toronto, Randy Starkman under the
header, "Pound Is On Shaky Ground," wrote that Pound is
"emerging" as the IOC's "chief apologist." Starkman called
Pound the IOC's "only shot at righting a sinking ship -- and
so far he's failing miserably," as his "defence of the IOC
is weak, untenable" (TORONTO STAR, 2/11). In Montreal, Jack
Todd writes under the header, "Does He Need This? Pound
Deserves A Lot Of Sympathy" (Montreal GAZETTE, 2/12).
