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Rings & things

By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times,
published December 2, 2001

CATTLE CALL: Old West tradition or cruelty to animals? Salt Lake organizers are tiptoeing between both views, promising to minimize harm to animals during a rodeo.

The Feb. 9-11 event is part of the program of cultural activities that accompanies the Games.

"We would like to be able to set an example for how this can be done properly, to the extent humanly possible," organizing committee president Mitt Romney said after meeting with the Utah Animal Rights Coalition.

Among the measures being considered is dropping the calf-roping event. Still, animal rights activists aren't satisfied.

Steer wrestling, said Steve Hindi of Illinois-based Showing Animals Respect and Kindness, "was never a part of ranching life, except maybe as pure entertainment."

ANOTHER CASE OF POOR TIMING: After losing to the United States for a fourth straight time, members of Canada's women's hockey team said all the right things last week. They talked about the U.S. squad having more time to prepare as a unit. They talked about their own progress. They said gold medals are not awarded in November.

The Canadians were right on every account, but they still have to be a little nervous with the Olympics two months away.

Canada has won all seven World Championship competitions, beating the Americans in the final every time.

But the first time women's hockey was a gold medal sport in the Olympics, the United States beat Canada in the championships in Nagano in 1998.

DOES THIS MEAN NO MORE BRIBES?: Romney said there is too much flash surrounding the Games and that costs are spinning out of control. The 2002 Games are expected to cost $1.9-billion, which, factoring in inflation, is still more than five times the cost of the 1980 Games at Lake Placid.

Romney said costs could be scaled back "if the Games were structured differently, beginning with the bid process."

-- Compiled by John Romano from staff and wire reports.

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