By Day Three, IBM's system to deliver "up-to-the-minute"
results was working for the media and Internet users, but
newspaper and worldwide news agencies -- such as the AP or UPI --
"still aren't getting results online consistently," according to
the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. ACOG COO A.D. Frazier: "The
fundamental problem that was so vexing and difficult seems to be
solved. The next big key is to get it into the World Press
Feed." The media, however, "have grown increasingly angry"
dubbing IBM's Info '96 system as "Info '97." IBM spokesperson
Jeff Cross: "We expect people to judge us for our performance
over the long haul of the Games, instead of the first two days"
(Melissa Turner, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/23). NEWSDAY notes
IBM's system has "stumbled badly" (Thomas Maier, NEWSDAY, 7/23).
The FINANCIAL TIMES calls the problems "a setback for IBM's plans
to use the event as a showcase" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 7/23). The
L.A. TIMES: "The problems, if they are not solved quickly, could
prove a colossal embarrassment" to ACOG and Atlanta organizers,
who touted these as the "technology Games" (Eric Harrison, L.A.
TIMES, 7/23). AP Sports Editor Terry Taylor: "Right now, we
have to assume that the results problem won't be fixed" (N.Y.
TIMES, 7/23).
