In a "drama that offered potent proof of Juan Antonio
Samaranch's enduring strength atop the Olympic movement,"
the IOC on Sunday "fully-endorsed a wide-ranging reform
package aimed at restoring its credibility and prestige,"
according to Alan Abrahamson of the L.A. TIMES. The IOC
voted 89-10 with one abstention to ban member visits to
cities bidding to host the Games. The vote, "which capped a
display of first-rate political theater, saw the IOC approve
all 50 proposals identified by a special reform commission,"
with 38 passing unanimously. Samaranch closed the meetings
in Lausanne by stating, "The problem we faced at the
beginning of the year -- today we will say this problem is
solved." Abrahamson: "The lingering question: Is it?" (L.A.
TIMES, 12/13). Sunday's "NBC Nightly News" led with the IOC
meetings, as Ron Allen reported that members "gave up
perhaps their biggest privilege: The opportunity to visit
cities bidding for the Games and anxious to pamper them with
lavish hospitality." Calling the meetings "unprecedented,"
Allen reported that Samaranch pushed through "sweeping
reforms ... trying to restore the Olympics' golden image and
bring accountability to a secretive organization that's
become a multimillion dollar sports and marketing
enterprise" (NBC, 12/12). Members voted Saturday to end
their unlimited memberships and to restrict future
presidents to a maximum of 12 years in office. They also
approved the selection of 15 active athletes to the IOC.
The "most significant" reform passed reduces the age limit
for new members from 80 to 70 and subjects all members to
re-election every eight years (N.Y. TIMES, 12/12).
THE POWER OF JUAN: In Chicago, Philip Hersh wrote that
Samaranch "seems to have more support and influence than
ever" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/12). In Toronto, James Christie
calls the results a "major victory" for Samaranch (Toronto
GLOBE & MAIL, 12/13). In N.Y., Jere Longman reports that
despite the reform measures, Samaranch "will still most
likely face tough questioning" before the House Commerce
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on Wednesday.
Members will ask him about his role in the regime of Spain's
Juan Franco and a $12,000 "side trip that his wife and a
friend took" to Charleston, SC, in '90, while Atlanta was
bidding on the '96 Games (N.Y. TIMES, 12/13).
REAL CHANGE? On Sunday's "NBC Nightly News," Stan
Bernard reported that some critics say the reforms "are
designed to fix the image of the organization, but [not] to
fix the IOC systems which permitted the corruption."
Olympic Reform Committee Chair George Mitchell, who feels
that the IOC's reform measures aren't enough: "A very good
job on financial accountability. ... Far less than that
with respect to the structure of the IOC and the method of
selection of members" (NBC, 12/12). In N.Y., Jere Longman
reports that "in many ways, considerable change has been
made in the I.O.C. in the last year," but "at the same
time," it "remains essentially the same organization it was
before the weekend" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/13). In Toronto, Jim
Byers writes the reforms were "brought in to try to make the
IOC younger and more responsive to athletes' concerns"
(TORONTO STAR, 12/13). In Chicago, Philip Hersh writes that
some members feel the moves "were based more on political
expediency and image-making than a commitment to change"
(CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/13). In Philadelphia, Bob Ford writes
that the IOC has seen "remarkable alterations" in the past
year. U.S. IOC VP Anita DeFrantz: "I'm proud of what we've
done, and I think we ought to get credit for it"
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/13). In DC, Amy Shipley writes
that the session "had the feel of an us-against-them locker
room meeting, with the IOC determined to show the skeptical
outside world that it deserved respect." John Hancock
Mutual Life Insurance President David D'Alessandro, on the
reforms: "It says the IOC has taken a first step. They, of
course, consider it a giant leap" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/13).
WHAT HAPPENS NOW: In Toronto, Jim Byers reports that
"many" in Canada feel the visit ban will "hurt the city's
chances of hosting" the 2008 Summer Games. Groups of
technical experts will now study the cities and then make
recommendations to the full IOC board (TORONTO STAR, 12/13).
