Reforming the Olympics -- May 11, 1999

Canadian Olympic hero Mark Tewksbury (see "When Sorry Isn't Good Enough," in the April issue of Swimming World) is becoming the International Olympic Committee's biggest, baddest nightmare.

While the IOC was attempting to ride out international outrage over a growing list of scandals, Tewksbury formed an independent watchdog ready to pounce on any discretion and pleged to restore the Olympic ideals to the besmirched Olympic movement.

OATH--Olympic Athletes Together Honourably--was formed in April with the help of a generous $1 million donation by Canada's Magna Corporation. The international organization consists of top Olympians from several sports and advocates. OATH is planning a conference called "Restore the Dream" in New York, June 11-13, to map out its strategy.