A General Accounting Office report released yesterday
stated that "staging" the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City
will cost the U.S. government $200M for "safety-and
security-related services," according to Irvin Molotsky of
the N.Y. TIMES. SLOC President Mitt Romney, on the report:
"My guess is that $400 million to $500 million in federal
funds will be spent for projects that are exclusively
Olympics. ... Half a billion dollars is a lot of money, but
it is money well spent." USOC Dir of PR Mike Moran said,
"The cost of the Games has been borne in this country by the
private sector. Nobody's tried to hide the federal money.
The government commitment has always been known" (N.Y.
TIMES, 12/22). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Chris Adams cites
the report as stating that federal spending for the 2002
Games "could top" $1.4B, most of which is "directed at
highway and other infrastructure improvements." Adams adds
that after the Salt Lake City bid scandal, the "boost in
federal spending is likely to raise further questions about
whether the spending is proper" (WALL STREET JOURNAL,
12/22). U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) questioned "why
taxpayers will spend" $1.4B: "Some federal expenditures may
be necessary, but there may be a fair amount of gold-
plating" (USA TODAY, 12/22). In Salt Lake City, Linda
Fantin notes the $1.4B is "double what was awarded" to the
L.A. and Atlanta Games (S.L. TRIBUNE, 12/22).
