Samaranch Expects Games to Be Opened to Professionals

The president of the International Olympic Committee said Wednesday that he expects a quick resolution of the few remaining problems involving amateurism in the Games.

“At present, we have some problems only with soccer, tennis and ice hockey, but I feel they will soon be solved,” Juan Antonio Samaranch said during meetings of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.

Samaranch’s comment came amid reports that delegates from Eastern and Western nations were clashing on a new eligibility rule that would signify the formal opening of the Olympics to professionals.

“No problem,” Samaranch said. “We took the word ‘amateur’ out of the Olympic charter 10 years ago. We want to regulate the presence of athletes in the Olympics to the best interest of all--the Games, the international federations and the athletes.”