USA TODAY's Melanie Wells writes that Olympic sponsors
"aren't the only companies watching developments" with the
IOC this week, "their rivals are watching, too." Wells
interviews category competitors of IOC sponsors, and John
Hancock Mutual Life Insurance President David D'Alessandro
said, "If we walk away, they're welcome to it, but I doubt
our competitors are that dumb" (USA TODAY, 3/15). A N.Y.
TIMES editorial states, "If the I.O.C. refuses to reform
itself this week, sponsors like John Hancock should let it
wither away" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/15)....In Boston, Zuckoff &
Powers examined possible congressional action if the IOC
fails to enact significant reforms. U.S. Senator and Senate
Commerce Committee Chair John McCain (R-AZ): "We're not
asking for the United Sates to control the Olympics. But I
think American interest should beneficially impress upon them
the need to clean up the situation." McCain estimates that
60% of the money that "fuels the Olympics comes" from U.S.
sources, while some USOC officials said that amount is
"closer" to 70% (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/14)....In Sunday's ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, Bert Roughton examined the financial state of
the IOC and reported that it will make "an estimated" $330M
in the four-year period since the '96 Olympic Games (3/14).
