Olympic Athletes Warned

Athletes from other countries will get no special treatment if they run into trouble with the law during the Olympics next summer, Atlanta’s Olympics chief said.

“To the contrary, we will brief athletes on the law and advise them of the consequences of any wrongdoing,” said Billy Payne, president of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games.

Payne’s statement followed a comment by Charles Battle Jr., head of international relations for the Olympics, who said in most cases athletes accused of a crime would probably just be sent home.

Battle said retailers would be encouraged not to prosecute shoplifters. “We don’t want this thing to become some kind of police state during the Games,” he said.

But Payne said the only assistance offered by ACOG will be in overcoming communication problems.