Advert prompts warning

Press, 26 September 1988, Page 22

Advert prompts warning

NZPA-Reuter Seoul The quadruple gold medallist, Matt Biondi, filmed a commercial for Disney World at the Olympic swimming stadium but rapidly shelved it after an 1.0. C. warning. Dick Pound, an International Olympic Committee (1.0. C. vice-president, warned Biondi when the giant American swimmer filmed the advertisement for the Florida amusement complex after his 100 metres freestyle win on Thursday. On Saturday evening Biondi set a new world record of 22.14 s in the 50m freestyle for his fourth gold.

Tom Jager, who held the old world record of 22.235, finished with a silver. Of the commercial Biondi, who helped steer the U.S. 4XIOO metre freestyle relay team to a world record on Friday, said: “I did it and there was a problem with it. They canned the film and it is over.” The United States team captain Jager, asked to comment on the incident, said “You cannot use an Olympic venue for a commercial and be an amateur.”

Mr Pound said the commercial was filmed between the end of Thursday’s race and the ceremony at which he

awarded Biondi the gold medal. He said he told the swimmer not to let “eight to 10 years of getting up at five o’clock every morning be put in jeopardy.” The swimmer replied: “Oh God, I didn’t know it was a problem,” Mr Pound said. The 1.0. C. official then mentioned the issue to Robert Helmick, a leading United States team official and president of the International Swimming Federation (F.1.N.A.). “These things have a way of working themselves out,” Mr Pound said.