If Games are held, Brennan will be there

5/14/2004

Widely recognized for her Olympic coverage, Brennan spoke yesterday on The Editors, hosted by Blade editor Tom Walton. She said that while concerns about terrorism affecting the August games in Athens do exist, Brennan has every intention of covering them.

“As a journalist, this is what I signed up to do,” Brennan said. “If the Games are going on, if the U.S. team is at the Olympics and all the other nations are there that are planning to go, then I should be there.

“That s my job as a journalist.”

That doesn t mean Brennan is heading to Greece without some trepidation.

“My sense is we ll always be on edge when we re at the Games. But the world, the country, and everyone needs a great Olympics to happen. With that in mind, there s no greater gift I think the world could have in 2004 than a safe and successful Olympics.”

Brennan said there are concerns about terrorists attempting to do something in Athens weeks before the start of the Olympics in an attempt to raise enough fear that will lead to athletes from countries across the globe opting not to participate.

Nonetheless, she said she expects the U.S. Olympic Committee will take the approach that if there s an Olympics, the U.S. will be a participant.

“The U.S. Olympic Committee is firm and they have not wavered at all on the issue of going to the Olympics. They are 100 percent in support of the Athens Olympics.”

Brennan s half-hour discussion on The Editors touched on the allegations of steroid use in sports, particularly in baseball. She also talks about high-profile athletes like Kobe Bryant and Maurice Clarett, both of whom arguably have been in the headlines more for spending time in courthouses than for athletic feats.

The Editors will air tonight at 8 on WGTE, Channel 30, and on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on WBGU, Channel 27.