Dec. 9, 1999
KSL has learned the President of the International Olympic Committee will meet with Justice Department investigators in their probe of the 2002 bribery scandal.
Here in Salt Lake,
Olympic organizers are wrestling with concerns about money and the fallout from the year-old scandal.
News Specialist John Daley reports.
For the Olympics these days it seems for every sunny day there's a storm cloud.
A year after it broke, the Olympic bribery scandal shows no signs of drifting away.
Samaranch & Dept. of Justice
The latest development--IOC President Samaranch won't face the embarrassment of being stopped for questioning or served with a subpoena when he testifies before Congress next week. But he will meet with the FBI.
Franklin Servan-Schreiber/IOC Spokesman: "The president is fully cooperating with the Department of Justice and he will meet for voluntary interview at the mutually agreeable date after his trip to Washington on the 15th."
Sydney Sponsor Revolt
At the same time, there's a storm brewing Down Under involving sponsors.
The 2000 Summer Games in Sydney may be facing a sponsor revolt.
Reebok, the shoe company, has dumped its $10 million contract because the financially-strapped Sydney organizers allegedly also signed sponsor deals with Reebok competitors.
Is there a danger the Olympic image is becoming damaged goods?
No, says Salt Lake's top boss.
Mitt Romney/SLOC President: "The real danger is when you sell sponsorships to competitors. We're working hard to avoid that gray area."
New Digs For SLOC
Meantime, Salt Lake organizers are beaming with a piece of sunny news.
They'll soon occupy at least 7 floors of the now mostly vacant American Towers building, thanks to a generous contribution from the building's owner, Albertson's.
Sydney Ticket Trouble
Also today, more trouble in Sydney, where Olympic organizers have scrapped a controversial ticketing plan.
The plan was for 200,000 tickets to be set aside for sales and hospitality packages at prices above face value.
Why'd they drop it?
To calm sponsors, who are opposed to the idea of non-sponsors getting premium tickets and hospitality.
