Olympic panel OKs gag order

The vote came two months after SLOC president Mitt Romney, taking the reins as CEO of the organizing committee, promised a new era of openness in the Olympic movement.

The gag order was adopted after some members complained they were learning more from press accounts than Olympic managers. But Romney said press leaks often occur when SLOC letters and faxes are sent to board members. He urged them to show restraint, especially with budget material.

The confidentiality order was a much-discussed impromptu item during a meeting at the Utah Capitol of SLOC's 20-member management committee.

The committee also approved Romney's hiring of Fraser Bullock as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Bullock will begin work May 1. He replaces Dave Johnson, who was forced out in January amid revelations that Salt Lake boosters had used gifts, cash payments and other favors to win the 2002 Winter Games.

"I'm just going to focus like a laser" on SLOC finances and organizing, said Bullock, 44, managing director of Alpine Consolidated, a Utah firm that specializes in business consolidations. He worked with Romney at Boston-based Bain & Co, and the friends have known each other for 18 years.

The board's new confidentiality order will not apply to its several ex-officio members who can't be replaced under any circumstance. They include Gov. Mike Leavitt and Salt Lake City Mayor Deedee Corradini or their designees.

"Clearly, we're not going to ask the governor to resign" for divulging information, said board member James Swartz, who sponsored the gag order.

It passed by a vote of 15-0 with Romney abstaining.

"The secrets of the company are the assets of a company," said Barry Sanders, SLOC's outside attorney. "To tell a secret is to squander an asset."

The order was refined several times before the voting. The final version wasn't limited to board members, so it apparently also applies to SLOC employees. It requires those who obtain "any communication written or verbal" that is marked confidential to be kept so.

The rule is punishable by expulsion, but it is not clear how SLOC will determine or prove a violation has occurred.

04-09-99