
Issue No 37		29 October 1999

Satire

Revealed: SOCOG Reserving Gold Medals for Tattersalls

By The Chaser

The scandal over the secret allotment of premium tickets for the 2000 Olympics escalated today with the news that members of Sydney's elite Tattersall's Club will receive Gold Medals without actually competing.

Olympics Minister Michael Knight defended the plan, pointing out that the Tattersall's members have agreed to pay three times as much as other athletes.

The decision comes after it was revealed that Tattersall's and other exclusive clubs had been given the opportunity to purchase tickets to popular events at inflated prices without entering the public ballot.

Mr Knight justified the arrangement by saying the arrangement was in keeping with SOCOG's commitment to having a lottery for the allocation of the tickets. "Our premium seat allocation plan is a lottery: some people are born with rich fathers who are members of Tattersalls, others aren't. It's completely random," he said. "It's also a way of "milking the rich".

Asked why such a presumably popular position was hidden from the public, Mr Knight said that it was done to ensure that rich people didn't cotton onto the plan. "Rich people aren't stupid, you know. If they had found out that we were trying to force them into the best seats at the most popular events they would never have agreed to it."

The Olympics Minister's comments were warmly endorsed by Olympic Village Mayor Graham Richardson. SOCOG chief Sandy Hollway has responded quickly to claims that the sale of premium tickets devalues the Games sponsorship packages. "Sponsors clearly get more value," said Hollway. "Sure, any old millionaire can bribe us for seats, but that doesn't mean you get the publicity that comes from being associated with the Games," said Hollway.

"Only those that pay enough get the privilege of being associated with Games events like the bribery in the bid process and Phil Coles.

When the terrorists strike and the Games degenerate into an orgy of steroids, it will be our sponsors, not the likes of the Tattersall's Club that benefit from the reflected glow.

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  Issue 37 contents

Republic: Yes, It's Time
Opposition leader Kim Beazley invoked the spirit of '72 when he launched the ALP's Republic campaign.

Interview: What Price a Just Republic?
Magistrate Pat Oďż˝Shane is far from happy with the republican model. But she still believes a Yes vote is her best chance for genuine constitutional reform.

Economics: Who the EFIC are you?
If you have not heard of Export Credit Agencies, don't be surprised because it seems they're not too interested in letting the public know what they do.

Unions: Old Habits Die Hard
With the release of its blue print unions@work the ACTU seems to know where it wants to go. But again it has failed to face up to the underlying structural issues preventing it from getting there.

Legal: Second Wave: Reith's Non-Right to Strike
Peter Reith has called his new laws the Workplace relations Amendment (More Jobs Better Pay) Bill 1999. If legislation is to carry these new, colloquial titles then the ďż˝More Control, Less Freedomďż˝ Bill would be a better title.

International: Wahidďż˝s New Team
Indonesias new government is blemished by Suharto-era appointees but an advance for reform, says Indonesiaďż˝s trade unions.

History: They Fought Them on the Airwaves
Radio broadcasts were an important weapon in the long-running struggle for equal pay.

Satire: Revealed: SOCOG Reserving Gold Medals for Tattersalls
The scandal over the secret allotment of premium tickets for the 2000 Olympics escalated today with the news that members of Sydneyďż˝s elite Tattersallďż˝s Club will receive Gold Medals without actually competing.

Review: What The Age Wouldnďż˝t Print
Some time before Monday 18 October, Age editor Michael Gawenda saw red and then got out his blue pencil. An article, heavily critical of Robert Manne, written by Overland editor Ian Syson, was pulled by Gawenda.

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