London Hopes IOC Will Approve Plans To Scale Back Venues For '12

IOC Coordination Commission Set To Visit London For First Time In Almost A Year

DEJA VU: In Chicago, Philip Hersh reports the IOC Evaluation Commission Sunday concluded its examination of Tokyo's bid for the '16 Games, closing with a news conference that "echoed the one given in Chicago two weeks ago." IOC Evaluation Commission Chair Nawal El Moutawakel "left little doubt much of this is scripted, so similar were her words in the two cities." But Hersh notes "that is by design." After the Chicago tour, El Moutawakel said, "We have been most impressed to find what Chicago could offer to the Olympic Games and the Olympic movement." El Moutawakel Sunday said, "We have been most impressed to find what Tokyo could offer to the Olympic Games." The commission has maintained that it will "draw no public comparisons until its report" on the four finalists is issued in September (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/21).

IT'S GETTING COLDER: In Portland, Richard Read reports VANOC officials "slash Olympics frills as they squeeze final pledges from sponsors," adding to "fallout from the global recession." VANOC Exec VP/Revenue, Marketing & Communications David Cobb: "We are fighting for every dollar now. Every organization we deal with is under more stress and more strain." City officials acknowledge there have been "cutbacks as the Games' total cost approaches" $5B. There are no longer plans to "wrap office towers, as Salt Lake City did in 2002, with giant sports images," while "four-color glossy brochures" no longer will be produced (Portland OREGONIAN, 4/21).

Print This Article