IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch has "agreed" to
speak with U.S. federal investigators about the Olympic bid
scandal, but not during his trip to the U.S. next week.
Samaranch will appear before a House Committee chaired by
U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) on Wednesday. In N.Y., George
Vecsey: "When he appears before the subcommittee with the
presumed reform package, [Samaranch] can expect to be
treated respectfully but not necessarily gently. A trace of
haughtiness just might touch off a representative who has
flown back from the home district" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/10).
HIGH MARKS FOR MITT: Citing a new poll showing that 80%
of respondents have "confidence" in the SLOC, and 86% are
"confident" that UT will stage a successful Games, a DESERET
NEWS editorial stated that SLOC CEO Mitt Romney and his
cohorts "merit high marks for restoring public confidence
following the Olympic bribery scandal" (DESERET NEWS, 12/9).
Romney is the subject of an extensive profile by John Powers
of the BOSTON GLOBE under the header, "Where Talk Is Not
Cheap: Romney Takes Action, Leads Reforms In Wake Of Salt
Lake City Scandal" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/10).