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IOC chief confident about S.L. as a host
By Lisa Riley Roche
Deseret News staff writer
The head of the International Olympic Committee said Wednesday he never doubted Salt Lake City could pull off a glitch-free Games.
"I was confident," IOC President Jacques Rogge told the Deseret News. "I know the homework was done (but), there are things you can't control."
So far, everything from the weather to the performance of the home team has cooperated to make the 2002 Winter Games a success, he said.
"I'm thrilled by the quality of the organization," Rogge said.
"The volunteers are wonderful. We have fine weather; the U.S. winning a lot of medals, which is important."
He said the largely American crowds at the events are warm, cheering all competitors, not just the U.S. team.
"But then we still have 11 days to go," he said.
That doesn't mean there won't be "issues here and there," he said, such as the growing controversy over the judging of the pairs figure skating.
The question of whether Canadian skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier were cheated out of a gold medal, however, is out of the hands of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.
After struggling to overcome the taint left by the bribery scandal surrounding Salt Lake City's Olympic bid and fears raised by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, it may be surprising to some that the Games are running smoothly.
"Knock on wood," SLOC President Mitt Romney said, tapping on a credenza in the Little America Hotel lobby shortly before his daily meeting with Rogge.
American IOC member Bob Ctvrtlik said organizers should realize their luck might not hold. "In every Olympics, there will always be things that come up," he said. "It's one of those things, you just keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best."
E-MAIL: lisa@desnews.com
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February 14, 2002
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