IOC Marketing Dir Michael Payne said that the IOC will
launch six or seven TV spots next month as "part of its
campaign to promote the Olympic movement," according to a
REUTERS report. The 30- and 60-second spots will be
premiered at the Sports Summit in N.Y. on January 19. The
spots, "boosted by a similar number of radio spots and press
advertising, would be run by the IOC's broadcasting partners
across 200 countries in the build-up to the 2000 Games in
Sydney next September." The campaign "revolves around"
archive footage of Olympic "heroes," and Payne said they
make no mention of the IOC (REUTERS, 12/14).
SAMARANCH ON THE HILL: IOC President Juan Antonio
Samaranch will face questioning today from a House Oversight
Committee on Capitol Hill, and in Philadelphia, Bob Ford
writes that the day should be "fascinating." Ford: "It
could represent the continuation of problems for the IOC if
the congressmen chose to back up their talk with actions.
Or, should [Samaranch] be congratulated for the changes he
has made, this could mark the end of the scandal"
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/15). In DC, Thomas Boswell
writes that Congress "should be deeply skeptical of
everything that was not done" during the IOC's recent reform
meetings in Lausanne. Boswell: "This was an insiders job.
The Olympic power structure changed every single rule and
reg that it could -- as long as it left the power structure
untouched" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/15). A DESERET NEWS
editorial called the reforms "noteworthy and commendable.
The reform banning IOC-member visits to bid cities sends the
clearest signal that the IOC is serious about cleaning up
its image" (DESERET NEWS, 12/14). A BIRMINGHAM NEWS
editorial stated the IOC "has taken a big step toward
rebuilding its credibility" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 12/14).
SAMARANCH SETS RECORD STRAIGHT ON ETHICS: Samaranch
looks to clarify reports that the IOC's eight-member ethics
commission would not initiate future investigations of
wrongdoing without a complaint or that it would not revisit
past violations. Samaranch tells the N.Y. TIMES: "Cases
that are judged are finished. But if new facts come from
the past, they will be reopened" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/15).
BAY CITY BLUES? In San Jose, Elliott Almond writes that
the Bay Area's bid to bring the 2012 Summer Games to the
area "has lagged behind its competitors because of a lack of
money and disorganization, factors it hopes to overcome
quickly as it begins a drive to become the U.S. candidate
city." Currently, Bay Area bidders "have pledges" of
$500,000 toward the 2012 effort (S.J. MERCURY NEWS, 12/15).
