MOSCOW -- The American Olympic community has a problem. Its
senior official is running for the most powerful job in sports,
while its national leader thinks someone else would do just fine in
the job.
This is the welcome mat to be laid out Wednesday, when U.S.
Olympic Committee president Sandy Baldwin arrives to watch Los
Angeles attorney Anita DeFrantz run for the presidency of the
International Olympic Committee.
DeFrantz, the first woman to hold a vice presidency on the
committee, is a longshot to be selected from a field of five
candidates to succeed Juan Antonio Samaranch.
Nevertheless, she was angered Monday about reports in which
Baldwin said Kim Un-yong, a South Korean diplomat and sports leader
and a leading contender for the presidency, would be an OK choice
despite a stern rebuke stemming from the Olympics' greatest
scandal.
"Dr. Kim is an extremely bright man who understands sport. He
knows how to organize and promote sport," Baldwin said.
Told of the remarks, DeFrantz literally bit her lip.
"Does she vote?" DeFrantz asked. "I guess she's expressing
her opinion."
Baldwin, scheduled to arrive at the IOC meetings on Wednesday,
does not have a vote. She said she would discuss the situation with
DeFrantz.
"I would assume we'd all sit down together in Moscow if Anita
doesn't appear to be winning and try to strategize the American
point of view," she said.
Kim was pleased by Baldwin's remarks.
"Very good news," he said. "Any nice words would be helpful.
Maybe she knows I work for the Olympics and sports."
While Baldwin's statement was far short of an endorsement, it
was extraordinary.
An IOC investigation of the million-dollar bribery scheme
surrounding Salt Lake's winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games
slapped Kim with a severe warning. It was a punishment just short
of the expulsions and resignations that swept 10 members from the
ranks.
At least one of the IOC's worldwide sponsors, John Hancock
financial services, has questioned whether the election of Kim
would be a rebuke of membership and financial reforms adopted in
the wake of the scandal.
But Baldwin told the Washington Post that public relations
issues "would go away fairly quickly" if Kim were elected.
"Do I think we would go through some? Yes," she said. "But
Dr. Kim is a very practical man. Ultimately, his image is important
to him. I think he would work very hard to change that
perception."
The first woman to head the USOC, Baldwin has spent time with
all five candidates in their home cities. Kim said her visit to
Seoul this year was a continuation of long-established links
between the two countries.
"We have good relations between U.S. and Korean sports," he
said. "She was impressed by what she saw."
Earlier, the IOC said Kim's name had been picked in a blind draw
to be listed first on the electronic voting board.
"Anywhere in the world, No. 1 is good," he said. "First in
the marathon is better. First in the 100-meter dash is better. But
you never know until it's over."
The choices of president and the host city for the 2008 Games
highlight the weeklong series of meetings capped by the IOC's 112th
Session, or general assembly.
Besides Kim and DeFrantz, those running for the presidency
include Jacques Rogge of Belgium, Dick Pound of Canada and Pal
Schmitt of Hungary. Rogge generally is considered the front-runner.
Beijing leads the race for the 2008 Games, with Toronto and
Paris its closest challengers. Istanbul and Osaka are also-rans in
the election set for Friday.
As the meetings began Monday, the IOC also:
Recommended that Samaranch be declared honorary president for
life, a ceremonial title that has been bestowed on other outgoing
leaders.
Launched a series of television ads, dubbed "Celebrate
Humanity," intended to put the focus of the Olympics back on
athletes and appeal to younger audiences.
Said that representation by women on the committee had
increased from 7.2 percent in 1996 to 10.6 percent now.
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