The Sidelines : No Olympic Feud: Atlanta Mayor

Mayor Maynard Jackson today told a gathering of business leaders that they should discount reports of a feud between him and Atlanta Organizing Committee President Billy Payne over the administration of the 1996 Olympic Games.

Differences between Jackson and Payne have been blamed for delays in the preparation of a plan for management of the Games. The plan is due to reach the International Olympic Committee on March 18, though some civic leaders had hoped the proposal would be ready much sooner.

Jackson told about 300 people at a business breakfast today that the delay is not due to any personal squabble. Jackson said more than 20 meetings have been held to discuss how management will be divided between the city, the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and the Metropolitan Atlanta Olympic Games Authority. He described the lengthy process as necessary, given the scope of the Olympics.