27 April 2004

Today's phrase that bodes poorly: Olympic cancellation insurance.

The IOC's taken out a $170 million policy in case the Games are cancelled by war, terrorism, earthquakes, landslides, or flooding (among other things). I'm sure the Greek tourism board is thrilled.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said getting the insurance was a case of using sound judgement rather than lack of trust in the Athens organizers. That this is the first time such insurance has been taken out makes me think otherwise, at least to some degree. I mean, if you didn't take out insurance for all the possible natural disasters that could have hit during the LA Games in 1984, what would you be waiting for?

Turin and Beijing will have their own policies as well, so if there's an outbreak of SARS or a bad batch of meatballs they're covered.

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