(3/11/99)
(Milan, Italy-AP) -- Henry Kissinger and Jacques Delors reportedly have been
asked to help redesign the International Olympic Committee.
It's unclear whether the former U.S. secretary of state and the main
architect of the European Union have agreed to serve.
IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch says he's looking outside the world
of sports to try to restore the committee's credibility.
Samaranch says Fiat tycoon Giovanni Agnelli has already agreed to join the
new panel, which would advise on a committee overhaul.
He says the new IOC could be comprised of 35 representatives each from
international sports federations and national Olympic committees.
And Samaranch says it will include prestigious athletes and global
personalities.
There are no active athletes in the current IOC assembly.
Samaranch has told IOC members they must clean up after the Olympic bribery
scandal.
In a letter sent to all committee members, Samaranch describes next week's
IOC general assembly as the most important meeting of his presidency.
He calls for structural changes to restore the organization's credibility.
The session will vote on the expulsions of at least five members in
connection with the Salt Lake vote-buying scandal.
Four members have already resigned.
There will also be a vote on measures to overhaul the bidding and
site-selection process for the 2006 Winter Games.
