SUMMER GAMES SPOTLIGHT : BARCELONA ’92 OLYMPICS / DAY 15 : ROYAL DISTRACTION

Prince Albert of Monaco, a member of the International Olympic Committee, visited the media center on Saturday. The prince was surrounded by security personnel and organizing committee officials, who formed a protective cocoon.

It was hardly necessary. As the prince and his entourage descended into a submerged working area known as “the pit” or, to North Americans, “the bullpen,” he was obscured more and more by a smoky haze.

Sportswriters on deadline hardly looked up as Prince Albert strode by. When it became clear that no one would be rushing to meet the prince, his advance man tapped on the shoulders of a few reporters and ushered them to the royal side.

One bewildered journalist was brought to the prince, shook hands and then returned to his desk. The man looked around, shrugged and stubbed out his cigarette. Merely another distraction.

* 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.