New SLOC President Mitt Romney arrived "alone" in
Switzerland to meet with Samaranch. Romney described
Samaranch, who he met for the first time, as "not formal or
stiff (but) very friendly and cordial." The IOC "took
notice of Romney's arriving alone." IOC exec Kevan Gosper:
"It's the first time in my experience a report has been done
by one man" (DESERET NEWS, 3/16)....In DC, Paul Farhi
examines corporate support around the Games and notes that
more than two months after allegations of bribery and
ethical misconduct "not one corporate sponsor has renounced
its involvement with the Games," while efforts to attract
new sponsors "seem hardly to have suffered" (WASHINGTON
POST, 3/17)....IMG Senior VP Rob Prazmark: "We won't know
the long-term effect of what consumers think ... until
Sydney (in 2000) (CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, 3/17).
...Canadian Olympians introduced the OATH group, which they
hope will be "a united and strong voice to hold the IOC ...
accountable." The group has received $30,000 of a promised
$100,000 in start-up funds from Magna Int'l Chair Frank
Stronach (TORONTO STAR, 3/17). The group is looking for
other corporate sponsors (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/17).
