(3/16/99)
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) _ A powerful Repulican senator has warned the IOC
that Congress will be forced to step in unless the Olympic panel takes strong
reform measures this week to deal with its greatest scandal.
In a letter to the senior Olympic official in the United States, Senate
Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain said it was "critical that the IOC
understand the gravity of this situation."
"The participation of U.S. athletes in the Olympic Games represents a vested
interest by American citizens in reestablishing the integrity of the Olympic
ideal of fairness and excellence in competition," McCain wrote to International
Olympic Committee vice president Anita DeFrantz. "This expectation of integrity
extends beyond the playing fields and into all aspects of the Olympic
movement."
In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, McCain
noted that his committee has scheduled hearings April 14 on the Olympic
scandal; that the IOC has tax-execmpt status in the United States; and that
sponsorships from U.S. corporations "represent a substanial majority of IOC
revenues."
"In the strongest terms, let me communicate to you my hope that the IOC will
move quckly to adopt reforms necessary to provide transparency and
accountability to the IOC organization and processes," McCain wrote. "Without
such independent action, the demand for Congress to act will be irrepressible."
Another Commerce Committee member, Sen. Ted Stevens, has drawn up
legislation that would strip the IOC of tax-exempt status, limit the percentage
of fees sponsors can deduct from taxes and reroute U.S. TV rights fees through
the U.S. Olympic Committee rather than sending the billions of dollars directly
to the IOC.
With the IOC set to vote Wednesday on the unprecedented expulsions of six
members and start work on long-range reforms stemming from the bribery scandal
n Salt Lake's winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games, DeFrantz characterized
McCain's letter as "an expression of concern" rather than a threat.
"Sen. McCain understands, especially in the United States, the importance of
sponsors to Olympic athletes," she said. "I'm confident he knows athletes need
financial support."
DeFrantz said she hoped to be asked to testify at the hearings.
"What I think about is how to save the athletes who are training for 2000,
2002, 2004 and 2006, and how to make sure there will be games for them," she
said. "If that means talking to members of Congress or members of the American
public, that is what I will do."
DeFrantz, herself a former Olympic athlete, said the expulsions were a sad
but necessary part of retaining the honor of the games. She said the six
members who face final votes had violated their oaths and tarnished the Olympic
rings.
"It's going to be difficult," she said. "It's sad. It's disappointing to me,
the actions some IOC members have taken. ... I think all the reports are very
clear. We take an oath of office that we are `accorded the honor' of serving
the IOC. The reports show that their actions were without honor."
The vote by 91 eligible members of the IOC on whether to uphold expulsions
imposed by the leadership will be a first in the panel's 105 years. DeFrantz
said it would be a decision with "long-term impact."
She said that and other actions by the IOC in the next two days would show
federal officials the committee was serious about reforms, because "the
athletes demand it."
