With budget shortfalls expected after the '96 games, the
USOC is looking for ways to make ends meet without cutting
programs for athletes. "Ironically, having the '96 Olympics in
the United States has drained the well." Because the Atlanta
games were sold so vigorously, major advertisers such as
McDonalds and Anheusier-Busch, who paid record amounts for
sponsorships, likely will not be so generous when it comes to
writing checks for Olympic sponsorships in Japan in 1998 and
Australia in 2000. As a result, everything from sports medicine
and science research cutbacks to fielding smaller teams could be
the consequence. The only thing that is safe is money for top
athletes. "Operation Gold," a program that rewards medal winners
with cash, will not be cut. Who will suffer? Most likely "raw
athletes who may not have the potential to be the next Carl Lewis
or Jackie Joyner-Kersee." US Skiing President Mike Jacki: "The
opportunity to support elite athletes is going to be cherished.
But we won't be able to go down the rank and file and provide the
type of support that we did in the past." The USOC hopes to pick
up the slack through a number of ways including private
donations, federal and state tax form write offs, and perhaps
state lotteries. US Skiing's Jacki thinks it will make the
organization stronger: "I can't think of any business that hasn't
had to go through this" (Melissa Turner, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
12/13).
NEW SPONSOR: Borg-Warner signed on as an Olympic sponsor
and will provide security guards for the '96 games. The
company's Wells-Fargo and Burns Int'l units will supply ticket
takers, ushers and guards for venues, the village and ACOG
offices (Ron Martz, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 12/13).
DELEGATES TOUR: IOC and ANOC officials spent Monday touring
Olympic sites (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 12/13). Issues to be
discussed this week include the worries about running the '96
marathon in the heat, slow preparations for the '96 sailing
venue, and presentations from candidates for the 2002 Winter
Games (Ben Brown, USA TODAY, 12/13).
