The bribery trial of former SLOC execs Tom Welch and
Dave Johnson "will not begin before June and could take up
to three months to conclude," according to Greg Burton of
the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, who notes that the trial schedule
could push a "courtroom climax to within six months" of the
2002 Games. But U.S. District Magistrate Ronald Boyce "made
it clear the trial would be over before the opening
ceremonies in February" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 9/21).
MONEY MATTERS: Also in Salt Lake, Jim Woolf reports
that the U.S. House of Representatives approved the sale of
gold and silver "commemorative coins" expected to generate
more than $6M for the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. The
estimated $6M in profits will be split between the USOC and
SLOC. U.S. Rep. Merrill Cook (R-UT) said that the "coin
program will not cost taxpayers anything because the
government will recoup all costs of coin production before
proceeds are paid out" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 9/21)....U.S.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) stepped up his criticism of federal
spending on the Games, saying he would try to block any
federal support of the 2002 Games. A Congressional report
found $1.3B in projected federal spending for Salt Lake, and
McCain said, "I will filibuster and do everything in my
power to delay any more appropriations bills that have this
pork-barrel spending for Salt Lake City" (S.L. TRIBUNE,
9/21). SLOC CEO Mitt Romney said the federal government
will spend $200M for security and $250M in transportation
costs around the Games. An extra $50M will be used for food
for athletes and health services (WASHINGTON POST, 9/21).
TICKET SALES: In UT, Wendy Ogata reported that since
Friday's start of the Sydney Games, ticket registrations for
the 2002 Games "have boomed." SLOC's Web site has been
receiving 1,000 registrations a day (DESERET NEWS, 9/20).
FROM THE WASATCH: Also in Salt Lake City, Linda Fantin
wrote that it cost $28M "to dress Sydney in banners and
billboards and other Olympic cosmetics, and that doesn't
include the venues themselves." The SLOC has "zero dollars
in its budget for community decor," and will therefore
"concentrate its 'look' wherever" the TV cameras are. SLOC
President Mitt Romney: "I'm a big believer in a lot of
'look' where the camera shines" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 9/19).
