SLOC President & CEO Mitt Romney aimed "to downplay the
impact a trial" involving former Salt Lake City bid execs
Tom Welch and Dave Johnson "might have" on the SLOC staff,
according to Fantin & Gorrell of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE.
Romney: "There's no question that individuals may be called
on to provide depositions or testimony. That's one of the
consequences of what's happened here. ... The loss of
individual employees for two- to three-day stints, as may be
required, will be difficult on them, but will not impact on
our ability to host the Games." Fantin & Gorrell wrote,
"Maybe not, but pretrial business can only be a distraction
at a time when, even in the best of circumstances, the
rapidly accelerating pace of preparations leaves organizing
committee staffers without a second to spare." Among those
who could be "impacted" by depositions are SLOC Senior
VP/Legal Affairs & Marketing Kelly Flint and former CFO
Gordon Crabtree (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/23). Romney: "I
believe this firmly, that sponsors, ticket buyers and the
government for that matter ... are focused on the athletes,
not the managers wearing suits. On the other hand, a trial
could color the pride of the community and the nation. I
hope it doesn't." But Romney added, "I believe at this
stage, our involvement in the process is over." While the
SLOC must "pick up the legal tabs for its current and former
officials," SLOC's insurance company "is balking at paying"
the $1,059,000 in legal bills "submitted so far in the case,
mostly from" attorneys hired by Welch and Johnson. Riley
Roche: "If they're convicted, they'll apparently have to
repay all the legal fees they were advanced" (DESERET NEWS,
7/21). Skiwear manufacturer and 2002 Games sponsor Marker
Ltd. Managing Dir Ralph Eeson said that he "doesn't believe
the company's image will be affected by the indictment."
Eeson: "As far as the indictments are concerned, we just
regard that as something that is really against two
individuals" (DESERET NEWS, 7/22).
