(4/5/99)
Organizers hope to sell 1.6 million tickets for Olympic events in 2002.
But, a substantial portion--perhaps thousands of seats for the main events--are already reserved for the Olympic family, the International Olympic Committee, National Olympic Committees, sponsors and others.
The question in the wake of the Olympic scandal--should there be a new ticket policy?
Most folks would jump at a chance to see the Olympics.
But how likely is it the average person
--like this father of five from Ogden--will get in?
Jay Whimpey says, "I'D HATE TO THINK AN EVENT COULD BE TOTALLY BOUGHT OUT BY OUT OF STATERS OR OUT OF COUNTRY-ERS. I'D LIKE TO SAVE A CERTAIN BLOCK FOR LOCAL PEOPLE."
So would Olympic Management Committee Member Ken Bullock.
He wants Salt Lake organizers to establish a ticket policy which will open up more seats for the average Utahn--by reducing the number of seats reserved for the Olympic family--for international Olympic power-brokers who automatically get seats,
as long as they have a highly-coveted plastic badge.
Bullock says, "IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE PRIVILEGED WHO IS ABLE TO GET ONE OF THOSE CREDENTIALS THE WORLD IS YOURS DURING THOSE 17 DAYS."
Another example of special treatment--Bullock says--IOC rules specifically require organizers to set up a presidential box for the Head of State
visiting dignitaries and the IOC President.
The layout of the box will have 30 "very comfortable seats" and "may take up the space of as many as 300 normal seats."
Bullock says by limiting such cushy treatment, there'll be more room for the average person.
"THEY SHOULDN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO SIT UP IN THE NOSEBLEED SECTIONS."
New Olympic boss Mitt Romney says he's on the same page.
He wants more tickets for Utahns. No free tickets for anyone except kids. And he wants to fill all the seats.
BUT, he says organizers have a contract with the IOC and USOC that requires they provide certain privileges.
Still, he acknowledges there may be room for compromise.
Romney says, "WE GOT A LOT OF THINGS FOR THE IOC AND THE USOC WE'D LIKE TO RENEGOTIATE AND A NUMBER OF THINGS WE'D LIKE FROM THEM--MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF THINGS."
That's fine with those who say they'd hate to be left out in the cold, while international VIPs have all the fun.
Tickets go on sale in October of next year.
But Salt Lake's ticket policy must be submitted by January. That's why Ken Bullock for one, believes organizers should begin formulating their plans now.
