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By Elliott Almond, San Jose Mercury News
Posted on Thu, Apr. 18, 2002
April 18, 2002 - Legacy has significance for Michael Johnson, one of history's greatest runners who Wednesday joined an effort to bring the 2012 Summer Olympics to the Bay Area.
Johnson, who retired last September at the Goodwill Games, emerges as the most prominent face to support the Olympic campaign. His presence could give a group of civic boosters, politicians and athletes a lift as they try to win the U.S. candidacy in November.
Johnson recently left Dallas for San Rafael.
He gushed about the area's prospects, saying San Francisco has a chance to replicate Sydney's success. The 2000 Games in Australia are considered by many the most aesthetically pleasing since Barcelona in 1992.
"This is such a great place. People are going to come here and enjoy themselves unless you do something crazy to mess it up," he said after a news conference in San Francisco.
Johnson, 34, is a three-time Olympian who won five gold medals and holds the world record in the 200 meters (19.32 seconds) and 400 meters (43.18). He joins the Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee (BASOC) with the chance to be more than a figurehead. He could become the bid's conscience because of his candor.
When considering joining BASOC, Johnson first wanted to know details of the proposed track and field stadium. Those plans call for either renovating or replacing Stanford Stadium with a modern facility for about $300 million. The new stadium would play host to opening and closing ceremonies and track and field. Although the stadium would primarily be used for Stanford football, bidders say a world-class track would remain for future events.
That's what Johnson wanted to hear. The Atlanta stadium where he became the first man to win the 200 and 400 in one Olympics has been converted into a ballpark for baseball's Braves. Sydney's stadium is now used for Australian Rules Football.
"I take my grandkids back to Atlanta, they will say, 'Were you a baseball player?' " Johnson said.
His wealth of experience could help refine the bid. For example, Johnson recalled how in Atlanta the track athletes took air-conditioned buses to and from the warm-up facility. The athletes had a difficult time preparing for their events because of the varied temperatures.
If San Francisco defeats Houston, New York and Washington for the U.S. candidacy, Johnson could also play an influential role with the International Olympic Committee. The U.S. candidate would compete against about a dozen foreign cities for the bid. The IOC is scheduled to award the bid in 2005.
"You have to be realistic and you have to be honest," he said. "We all know that honestly, putting on the Olympic Games is not just about the athletes. It is about the fans as well, it is about satisfying corporate sponsors."
He said he came away from talks with bid leaders feeling that they agreed with his assessment.
"They're not promising anything they can't deliver," he said.
Neither is Johnson, who is easing into retirement. He plans to do corporate speaking as well as broadcasting, including two major track meets at Stanford in June. Has he run since retirement?
"I just stopped," he said. "I'm not even feeling strange yet. I'm sure I'll miss it at some point."
By then, perhaps, he will be thinking more about how to run an Olympics than how to run in one.
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Contact Elliott Almond at ealmond@sjmercury.com or (408) 920-5865.
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