SUMMER GAMES SPOTLIGHT : BARCELONA ’92 OLYMPICS / DAY 14 : SAMARANCH: WHAT’S A FEW MORE PROS?

IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch endorsed the NBA’s participation in the Olympics.

Said Samaranch: “I want to thank the NBA athletes for participating and teaching the world a lesson, not only in the high level of their game but in fair play and friendship.”

Samaranch made his comment at a news conference after a meeting with Magic Johnson.

Considering that in 1989, 59 of 72 nations voted for NBA players to participate in the Olympics, it continues to be amazing that American journalists ask foreigners to comment on whether NBA players should play in the Olympics.

Samaranch was asked the same question, and he responded in a predictable way.

“We have had professionals in the Olympics for many years,” he said. “All the professionals playing in Spain, Italy and France played in the Olympics. We must continue to use the best athletes we have. And we going to continue using the best players in the world.”

This a daily roundup of Olympic-related items from reporters in Barcelona from the Los Angeles Times, Newsday and Baltimore Sun, all Times-Mirror newspapers.