Sports: Aftershocks

Aftershocks

Compiled from Times wires

Security scrutinized for Winter Games

LONDON -- The IOC will keep the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and review every aspect of its security operations following terrorist attacks in the United States.

"We have always put security as the No. 1 priority," International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

"These dramatic events will not awaken us to security issues. But, for legitimate reasons, we will reassess and re-evaluate everything."

Rogge said the Salt Lake Games will be staged as planned Feb. 8-24, despite heightened concerns in the wake of Tuesday's violence in New York and Washington.

Rogge said security will be discussed by the ruling IOC executive board next week in Lausanne. Salt Lake Organizing Committee president Mitt Romney will report to the board by video conference from Utah.

Rogge declined to specify what areas of security would be examined, saying "this is a period of mourning and respect."

Rogge described as "horrendous" the attacks in which hijackers crashed jetliners into the World Trade Center towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.

Security has been a prime concern for the IOC since a terrorist assault at the 1972 Munich Olympics killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches and six others.

At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, one person was killed and more than 100 injured when a pipe bomb exploded in Centennial Park.

COACH FEARED DEAD: Mari-Rae Sopper, the women's gymnastics coach at UC Santa Barbara, was aboard one of the flights downed by terrorists. She was traveling on the American Airlines flight from Washington that crashed into the Pentagon, according to a list released by the airline.

NCAA: The executive committee voted to donate $5-million for disaster relief to victims of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. The committee also urged a moment of silence or some other form of public recognition at all college sports events this weekend.

SOCCER: Major League Soccer owners and general managers met via teleconference Wednesday afternoon but made no final decision on the status of this weekend's games. The group will meet today about whether to play the six games scheduled, four on Saturday and two on Sunday. The Mutiny plays at Columbus Saturday night. ... European soccer's governing body postponed the rest of its games this week after allowing matches to be played Tuesday, which drew criticism from some players and coaches as well as the Vatican. ... FIFA authorized this week's Asian World Cup qualifiers to proceed, saying the sport provides a "beacon of hope." ... South Korea plans to designate no-fly zones above its 10 World Cup venues during next year's tournament.

-- Staff writer Rodney Page contributed to this report.