(2/15/99)
The new leader of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee made an appearance on "The Today Show" this morning. Mitt Romney answered questions about the scandal and his commitment to the 2002 Winter Games. News Specialist Lisa Conley has more.
Romney seemed confident and at ease this morning, delivering the kind of pro-Olympic and pro-Salt Lake rhetoric you might expect. He says he fully supports any investigations and holds managers to the highest possible standard.
Mitt Romney, SLOC President: "WHEN THEY BREAK THE PUBLIC TRUST AS BADLY AS THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE THEN I THINK IT'S TOTALLY APPROPRIATE THAT WE CONTINUE INVESTIGATIONS AND TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION."
Romney also put to rest any concern about the loyalty of big Olympic sponsors, especially John Hancock Insurance.
Mitt Romney: "THE ACTION HERE HAS BEEN SEEN BY THE SPONSORS AS GOING A LONG WAY IF NOT ALL THE WAY TO GETTING THE JOB DONE. HANCOCK LIFE INSURANCE SAYS THE CHANGES MADE HERE WERE BRILLIANT."
When asked why he left a multi-million dollar enterprise in Boston to head a struggling Salt Lake Olympic Committee, he said he sees it as an opportunity to make a difference for the better.
