On the controversies that surround subjective judging:

Judgment are always questionable and they produce big emotions. There’s nothing more emotional than a decision that goes against your country. This [official] may be wrong. If the person is wrong in good faith, you have to accept it. If the person is cheating, you have to correct it.

On figure skating’s mandate to change:

We respect totally the autonomy of the federations and respect the initiative launched by the International Skating Union. We have time til 2006. For them it’s more urgent.

On the decision to give a second gold medal to the Canadian pair:

I have no regrets on the decision. It was a decision done according to the rules and, most important, brought justice.

On whether that decision might open a ‘Pandora’s box’ in the future:

Absolutely not. I do not see this as a precedent that will dictate our behavior later. This was very rare. We did it three times before. We did it this time here. I don’t expect it to happen often in the future.

On the continuing inquiry into the pairs judging controversy:

Now it is not an inquiry to find out whether-but who was involved.

On his concerns about the positive drug tests in Salt Lake:

I’m never angry or sad when there’s a positive test. It’s just a sign that we’re successful in tracking down cheats. It’s a sign our system works.

On whether athletes who tests positive for drugs can be stripped of prior medals:

I think the athletes will have no credability and will not be recognized as a true Olympic champion. Whether we actually can strip him of a medal, I don’t know. It’s a moral issue.

On whether short track is too riddled with controversy to remain in the Games:

I come from sailing, where there are a lot of disqualifications, too. Short track is a very good spectator sport. Definitely the sport will stay in the Olympics.

On American medal success in Salt Lake:

We always pay great attention to the success of the home team. It builds excitement. I told [USOC president] Sandy Baldwin and before her [former president] Bill Hybl, ‘Your first priority is to fund your winter sports. You’re number one at the Summer Games, but in Winter you’re in the middle of the pack. You can be much more. As a host country you have to succeed.’

On whether the adoption of new sports like skeleton and, in recent Olympics, short track, snowboarding and freestyle skiing, was designed to help the U.S. team:

No. It was done to spark popularity with young people.

On his decision not to follow the Samaranch tradition by declaring each Games the best ever [or, in the case of Atlanta, not]:

I’m a very prudent man. But I will say the IOC was very pleased. The transportation was excellent, the technology was flawless, security was OK. The weather was fine. The venues were great. The crowds warm and appreciative. There were thrilling athletic performances. All athletes said it was fantastic-2,700 athletes and maybe 10 were not happy.

On staying with the athletes in the Olympic village:

The Olympic village was superb. I slept in a good bed in quiet room. The food was excellent. The athletes were happy. I will say it was the best Olympic village in history. I will not compare Olympics, but I agree to compare villages.

On the strong TV ratings:

The ratings here emploded. But the broadcasts also did excellent in all regions of the world. Curling became a hit in Europe. Seven million people daily watched curling in Germany.

On whether American nationalism was too pronounced:

I was absolutely not shocked or offended by exaggerated nationalism. The crowds were warm and fair. They cheered all athletes. I know of only two countries, Australia and the Untied States, where they stay and cheer the medal ceremonies even if they have no national involved. In other countries most people leave if they have no national on the podium.

On prospects for future Games in America:

American has had the maximum-nine. France is next with five. But that is because there have been many very credible bids and the IOC has always responded to the quality of the American bids. So the chances are definitely there for 2012. Salt Lake definitely helped. The last Games in Atlanta were not good games. There was bad organization. This has been corrected here.

On the injection of politics in the Games and, in particular, September 11th:

We don’t want political input and will always fight it. But here we need to respect the feelings of a nation. We had to give justice to the American public. This was a trauma in the U.S. It is a vastly overriding political issue. It was also something felt throughout the world. But to have the flag paraded by the U.S. team would have been a contradiction. How can you have the explosion of joy at the same time your athletes are carrying a flag that requires dignity. We came up with a good compromise.

On the Mormon presence at these Games:

I met no dignitaries of the church. They didn’t seek contact with me. I didn’t seek contact with them. The church was absolutely invisible to us and the rest of the Olympic family. I will say that many of the volunteers were Mormons. Because of their experience on missions, the knowledge of foreign languages was extremely high. I have been greeted in many venues in Dutch, which is my native language, but is not the world’s mother language.

On anxieties about Athens 2004:

I was nervous two years ago. I’m not nervous now. There is always a focus on the upcoming Games. But since we issued a warning to the organization, things are going far better. Now they have a cruising speed. Now if they can keep their commitments [everything will be all right]. But there is no time cushion any more for stoppage.

On Africa’s prospects to host the Games:

We will never give up quality just for the symbolism of going to the one continent that hasn’t held the Games.