NEW MEMBERS: IOC delegates voted in 14 "new rank-and-
file members," including USOC President Bill Hybl. Hybl
"got the fewest 'yes' votes of all the new members, 55 out
of 83," as he "was unpopular with some IOC members, who felt
he shifted the blame" for the Salt Lake City bid scandal
from the USOC to the IOC (AP, 9/14)....In Toronto, Patricia
Young reports that IOC VP Dick Pound "stepped down" from the
IOC Exec Board after completing his four-year term. But at
the "behest" of IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch, Pound
has been "given special dispensation to join" Exec Board
meetings. An IOC "insider" said Pound's position was
"secure until next July," and that after it was "up to the
new president." Pound: "I'm off (the exec board as a voting
member). And unless I get fired (he remains in charge of
marketing)" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 9/14).
NOTES: In N.Y., John Shaw reports that 80% of tickets
for the Games have been sold and the event is "on track to
match or exceed" the record of 82% for the '92 Games.
Overall ticket sales have hit about $400M so far (N.Y.
TIMES, 9/14)....Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman said that if the
city "loses its bid to host" the 2008 Olympics, it will
"again pursue the Summer Games until it gets them."
Lastman: "Whatever it takes until 2012 or 2016, we will
never give up" (TORONTO SUN, 9/14). Raptors F Vince Carter
has "thrown his support behind" Toronto's 2008 bid. Carter
has been "wooed" by the bid group "to become an active
member of its organization" (TORONTO SUN, 9/14)....While
details of the Friday's opening ceremonies "remain closely
guarded," the "only hints" SOCOG organizers gave about the
program is that it will be "on the verge of audacious"
(Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 9/14)....In Philadelphia, Bob
Ford notes the success of the U.S. women at the '96 Atlanta
Games and writes, "A reprise of the 'Chick Olympics' for the
[U.S.] is possible, but the soccer team ... is aging
rapidly, and the softball team has been beset by internal
bickering" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/14)....On the "Today"
show, U.S. swimmer Jenny Thompson discussed her topless
photo featured recently in SI: "I've worked hard for the
body that I have. That picture was more about muscles, and
more about strength, and I'm proud to be an American. You
know, it was a little overboard, but I thought that was the
fun of it" (NBC, 9/14)....In N.Y., Filip Bondy noted the
introduction of Game mascots Syd the platypus, Millie the
echidna and Olly the kookaburra on Tuesday. Bondy: "If
these mascots weren't immediately recognizable as real
animals ... then at least they weren't the hideous failure
that was Izzy" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/13)...."NBR"'s Paul
Kangas reported that shares of Quokka Sports were up $2.50,
or 42% yesterday, to close at $8.50. Kangas: "[Quokka] is
in a pact with NBC for around-the-clock coverage of the
Olympic Games on cable and the Internet" ("NBR," 9/13).
