With a year to go until the 2000 Olympic Games in
Sydney, 97% of the event's facilities "are up and running,"
according to Stephen Wickens of the TORONTO SUN. But
Australia Olympic Minister and SOCOG President Michael
Knight "admits sponsorship revenue is short of projections
... and that transportation and communications-technology
improvements still have to be made" (TORONTO SUN, 9/15). In
N.Y., John Shaw wrote that Sydney organizers "say they are
prepared but not overconfident." SOCOG CEO Sandy Holloway:
"There's a strong sense of urgency and not a shred of
complacency." Some "minor complaints surfaced this week,"
with some news media officials commenting "about the quality
and cost of accommodation" at the $65M media village (N.Y.
TIMES, 9/15). In DC, Amy Shipley wrote that organizers
"have been buoyed by the public's response to the opening-
round of ticket sales." SOCOG GM Milton Cockburn: "The
public's energy for the Games always remained very high, but
there were ramifications of the IOC scandal here. The fact
that the first-round ticket sales went so very well shows
that people realize the Games themselves are not
besmirched." Shipley noted that Sydney "still must raise"
$91M of the budgeted $550M in sponsorship revenue
(WASHINGTON POST, 9/15). USOC Dir of Public Affairs Mike
Moran, on Sydney's facilities: "The venues are really
impressive. The Olympic Stadium is spectacular; better than
any other I've ever seen" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 9/15).