(4/26/99)
A major departure for Olympic organizers.
The top money man for Salt Lake's Olympic effort is out.
John Krimsky is resigning as the U.S. Olympic Committee's marketing chief.
News Specialist John Daley reports.
Krimsky's resignation comes as a big surprise, and may be a big concern for
sponsors already troubled by the bribery scandal.
An usual start. On conference call from Colorado, John Krimsky steps down,
and is the victim of an accidental hang up.
Krimsky's departure is no laughing matter. He was "the" Olympic money man,
helping raise $2-billion in his 13 years of fundraising for the U.S. Olympic
Committee.
But the SLOC President, Mitt Romney, and Krimsky both say the change need not
alarm would-be sponsors.
Romney says, "I don't believe they sign on as sponsors because they think John
Krimsky is a silver-tongued devil or Mitt Romney is quick as lightning. They
sign on because they like the athletes and want to support sport and youth."
Krimsky says, "The olympic product will not only survive but flourish in this
environment in which we are creating new opportunities, particularly in Salt
Lake."
Krimsky leaves his post to return to private business. He also leaves
organizers facing serious questions.
What about major new sponsors? None have been signed recently.
And organizers are still $300 Million short.
Can IMG, hired last week to handle Olympic marketing, make up for the loss
of the well-connected Krimsky?
Board member Ken Bullock says the key to bringing sponsors back rests with
the IOC. "I think they may have some anxious feelings, but the ones who can
allay all those concerns are the IOC. They seem to have just disappeared off
the radar screen. They created the problem. They need to step up and help
solve this problem."
One member of the Board of Trustees tells Eyewitness News Krimsky's departure
is a "major setback," a "changing of horses in midstream" that could worry
sponsors because he was "the contact" between organizers and corporate America.
