Senior IOC official Marc Hodler "set off another ruckus
Monday, saying the 2002 Winter Games could be moved out of
Salt Lake City or canceled because of the Olympic bribery
scandal," according to Gorrell & Boulton on the front-page
of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. But his opinions, "that the
scandal could scare off potential sponsors needed to pay for
the Games, were dismissed quickly" by the SLOC, IOC and
USOC. IOC Marketing Dir Michael Payne: "Mr. Hodler was
speaking in an individual capacity. That is not the
position of the IOC." Payne said the Games will be moved
only in case of "war, earthquake, civil disturbance or an
act of God." USOC Dir of PR Mike Moran called Hodler's
statements "from left field and without basis" (SALT LAKE
TRIBUNE, 1/12). IOC Exec VP Anita DeFrantz, on canceling or
moving the Games: "That hasn't been discussed, and I doubt
it would be discussed. ... We are pleased with the progress
that Salt Lake City has made in moving forward with all of
the stuff swirling around it" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/12).
CALGARY MENTIONED AS POSSIBLE SITE: Hodler mentioned
Calgary as a possible site to move the Games, and Canadian
Olympic Association President Bill Warren said, "Could
Calgary be ready? Oh, yes" (CANADIAN PRESS, 1/12).
MAKING A LIST, CHECKETTS IT TWICE: In N.Y., Neal Travis
writes that the "rumors" that MSG President Dave Checketts
"will take over" the 2002 Games "are stronger than ever."
While Checketts has been mentioned before, Travis writes, "I
think Checketts might bite this time. Things have changed
at the Garden since he was last approached." If Checketts
does leave, Travis lists possible MSG successors, including
The Marquee Group CEO and former MSG President Bob
Gutkowski, former Universal execs Frank Biondi and Ron
Bension and former HBO exec Michael Fuchs (N.Y. POST, 1/12).
