Olympics

George Steinbrenner, who had to give up a seat on the Atlanta organizing committee for the 1996 Olympics, has been recommended to become an alternate on the panel.

The officers of the U.S. Olympic Committee made the recommendation and the job was offered to Steinbrenner in a letter from William Hybl, the newly elected president of the USOC.

Steinbrenner, the majority owner of the New York Yankees who was barred from day-to-day operations of the team because of his dealings with a gambler, had to yield his seat on the Atlanta committee to Hybl when previous USOC chief Robert Helmick, who had appointed him, resigned.

Helmick, who resigned the presidency of the USOC last month amid allegations of conflict of interest arising out of his business dealings, had two seats on the Atlanta committee, one because of his USOC position and one as a member of the International Olympic Committee.

Los Angeles attorney Mike Lenard, like Steinbrenner a USOC vice president, has offered to give up his alternate role for Steinbrenner.