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Show "We are dedicated to the public interest, to fairness and accuracy, to innovation and growth, and to the Restless pursuit oj excellence." Pulitzer mission statement EDITOR: DONALD W. MEYERS OPINIONS All THE DAILY HERALD 4 Olympic scandal provides lesson in open government S VTI RDAY. JAM ARY 2. $how me the money! w -- The 2002 Winter Games are ;stiil three years away, but the Olympic glory is already fading. TUtah's Olympic legacy at this point appears to be one of bribery and corruption in the quest for Olympic gold. An International Olympic C6mmittee member recently revealed that the Salt Lake Olympic bid committee gave "scholarships" for IOC members' families, allegedly in return for support for Salt Lake's bid for the 2002 Winter Games. Other allegations include free medical treatment for an IOC member by Intermountain JJealth Care, which became the medical provider for the 2002 Games. ""We find it disturbing that, before it even gets into the starting blocks, Utah's Games will go down in Olympic history g the ones that were apparently bought. While other cities jmay have bought IOC votes, Salt Lake City has the misfortune of being the one that got caught. And that is a black mark on those who hoped to use the games as a showcase for Utah hospitality and the good will and sportsmanship Utahns are known for. The U.S. Attorney General and the U.S. Olympic Committee are both looking into the charges, and the Salt Lake Olympic Committee is conducting its own investigation. We hope these efforts will identify and punish those responsible. r." But there is a silver lining to sad affair. serve can as It tjiis an object lesson for open The IOC has traditionally operated outside of public scruti- - The European members of the committee are not used to the American tradition of laying governmental processes open to public inspection and criticism. While SLOC has made an effort to conduct some of its business in the open, there's still a little too much going on behind the scenes. Questions about finances have been shrouded in secrecy, even from some of the lesser members of the committee. With business conducted in private, charges of bribery, favoritism and cronyism fly too easily, and there is little, if any, evidence to refute it to the pubny. lic's mmmmmM I 1 AL366601U1A MP m':MM satisfaction. If the IOC were to adopt a policy of conducting its business in the open and having each city submit a bid based on published criteria and releasing the bid documents to the public when they are opened, then the potential for mischief and corruption would be minimized. Also, bid committees should be required to submit financial statements that account for every penny spent on the bid process and who, if anybody, received any scholarship, gift or other consideration from the bid committee. We think state and local governments should use this whole episode as a lesson in the dangers of skirting public participation in public issues. "We didn't do anything different than any other bid committee." Tom Welch, former head of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Winter Games, responding ' to charges that his bid committee paid bribes to International Olympic Committee members. "We owe to them (the athletes) the obligation to make certain that the , games in which they participate are in fact and are perceived as totally fair and above reproach." Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, who is heading up a U.S. Olympic Committee investigation into allegations that Salt Lake City Olympic organizers used bribes to get the 2002 Winter Games, Members of The Daily Herald editorial board are Publisher Kirk Parkinson, Managing Editor Mike Patrick, Opinions Page Editor Donald W. Meyers, City Editor Sharon Gholdston and Provo resident Sterne " really wonder sometimes, with people who focus on such things in a negative manner, whether they have experience of conditions in countries than the United d McMullen. 5 Jex' and fidelity. I "Utah's Congressional delegation Rejected all such excuses with righteous indignation and pressed hard jbr resignation or impeachment. jAnything less "would send the wrong Jnessage to our children." Character JhiaJters! Clinton should confess and JeSign, as Congressman Livingston 5"bJow Salt Lake City officials have "been caught making secret bribes to win the 2002 Winter Olympics for jjlltah, and again excuses are being jnade. Other cities probably made Jprjbes too; they just didn't get caught. 5CC officials accepted the bribes, so fealt Lake's officials are less to blame. 4W)K to pay bribes, even though JiwIOC ethics code clearly forbids it, ftfSause Salt Lake officials had good 3fttf ntions, and IOC officials extorted bribes by hinting for them. 5, So what will the moral leaders of itir community say now? Should Salt Stake City keep its prize, however dishonestly obtained at the expense of -- Sfflfe DMT) HERALD EDITORIAL States." Frank Joklik, SLOC president, on giving a scholarship to the relative of an African IOC member. jWhere is Utah's morality? '.When Bill Clinton was caught Syiiig under oath about his sexual IJtrysts with Monica Lewinsky, excuses Swere made. Other presidents have 5had affairs too; they just didn't get caught. Monica Lewinsky pursued so Bill is less to blame. It's OK Jtff he, even under oath, in matters of IW LETTERS TO THE EDITOR other bidding cities? Wouldn't that reflect a double standard of honesty? Shouldn't Salt Lake give back the Olympics award and insist on a fair competition? What message (about excuses for dishonesty) will we send to our children this time? Chris Allen Park City Don't leave pets out in cold Could you please perform a great kindness during bitter weather and remind people to bring their pets inside, especially at night? A back yard or open carport will not give them the shelter they need from the wind and the cold. Dogs and cats can suffer from hypothermia and frostbite too! Channel 4 reported last night that a Doberman in Salt Lake City froze to death in its doghouse. At the very least they will be very miserable outside in this extremely cold weather. Thank you so much! Shirley Riggs SiirtJi Orem M By Garry Trudeau t&onesbury HOUmfFIN YOUNSffO-- Rmwucsewicemr smucnoNOFeocP. ffOrVUFSBOP k J THY BP SU8JBOZP70THE VU& ATTACK. 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