In an interview with USA TODAY, ACOG CEO Billy Payne said
reports things are "falling apart" in Atlanta "are just not true"
and that complaints about transportation and technological
problems are overblown. Payne: "The statistics say otherwise.
On Monday, we made 6,000 media shuttle bus trips. Only eight
were not within 15 minutes of scheduled departure or arrival
times. I don't know if it's humanly possible to get a whole lot
better than that." Payne said the competition is "the story that
will hang on after this is over. ... What has happened is that
some of the early snafus have been in things that directly affect
the media and their population" (USA TODAY, 7/24).
NETWORK COVERAGE: Calling them "The Glitch Games," CBS'
Mark Phillips examined "Olympian traffic jams, logistical
snafus," computer difficulties and charges of over-commercialism.
British journalist Neil Wilson: "We're just a little fed up
because the country that is supposed to lead the world in
technology is looking a bit like a Third World nation at the
moment." Phillips interviewed both IOC VP Dick Pound and Payne.
Pound, on transportation problems: "It's a little short of
chaos, but there are certain parts of it that haven't worked very
well." Payne, on negative press about sponsors and vendors:
"What people see here that to some people is described as over-
commercialization, is Atlanta and America partying. And there's
nothing wrong with that" ("CBS Evening News," 7/23).
