WORLD SPORTS SCENE / RANDY HARVEY : There Are Other Obstacles in Berlin

International Olympic Committee members are expected to receive a film soon in the mail. Bud Greenspan’s “16 Days of Glory” it’s not.

Produced by a group calling itself “Nolympics,” which consists of opponents of Berlin’s bid for the 2000 Summer Games, the film includes a scene of a masked demonstrator throwing an object toward the camera.

An ominous voice warns, “We will wait for you.”

The film is part of a campaign by anarchists, leftists, environmentalists, politicians and residents who have coordinated their efforts for various reasons. Chief among them is their belief that Berliners should spend their money and energy on solving the economic and political crisis caused by the reunification of West and East Germany.

“Nolympics” preaches nonviolence, but other opposition groups have not been converted. Tires on cars bearing the Olympic logo have been slashed, and the offices of a printing company contracted by the bid committee were set on fire. The arsonists left a note that said: “Whoever plays with the Olympic rings gets their fingers burned.”

Anti-Olympic groups have a history of effectiveness, contributing to the derailment of Summer Games bids by Nagoya, Japan, for 1988, Amsterdam for ’92 and Toronto for ’96. Demonstrators from Toronto, known as “Bread, Not Circuses,” camped out in a tent in the lobby of a swank Tokyo hotel during the IOC vote in 1990.

But “Nolympics” could be accused of piling on. Considered the favorite when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the city’s bid has faltered because of the lack of local support. Only recently was the bid committee able to announce that one its polls indicate more support than opposition for its efforts.

Although not identified as a member of any organized group, one of the most prominent opponents of Berlin’s Olympic bid is tennis star Boris Becker. He does not believe that the Olympics should return to the city used by Adolf Hitler to flaunt the Third Reich during the 1936 Summer Games.

A co-favorite along with Sydney, Australia, to win the nod from the IOC in a September vote to organize the 2000 Summer Olympics, Beijing does not miss a trick.

Less than a week after the IOC was besieged with criticism because of reports that it hired a public relations firm to campaign on the committee’s behalf for the Nobel Peace Prize, the president of the Chinese Olympic Committee said, in effect, “What’s the fuss?” IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch deserves the award, he said.

The IOC, meantime, denied it hired the firm with the Nobel Prize in mind.

According to the New York Times, the Chinese government has ordered the State Security and Foreign ministries to stop their agents from tailing foreign correspondents in an effort to improve the country’s human rights image and aid Beijing’s chances to win its Olympic bid.

The policy of tapping reporters’ phones and bugging their homes and offices has not been changed, but Chinese officials at least carry it out with a smile. The Times reported that they cheerfully explain to reporters how the bugs work.

The U.S. Olympic Committee reports that four cities, Boston, Miami, New Orleans and St. Louis, already have begun campaigns for the 2004 Summer Olympics. Interested parties in Los Angeles, who at one time were pointing toward that year, have not announced their plans.

They better hurry if they want to save the track at the Coliseum, the only stadium to serve as the stage for two Summer Olympics. As part of the Coliseum’s renovation project, workers will begin to uproot the track today.

The U.S. Figure Skating Assn. is still attempting to fill the men’s and women’s fields for the April 6-7 Pro-Am at the Sports Arena.

On the USFSA’s wish list to join 1988 Olympic champion Brian Boitano and others in the men’s competition are 1984 Olympic champion Scott Hamilton and 1992 Olympic silver-medalist Paul Wylie. But Wylie appears to have another commitment. Two-time U.S. champion Christopher Bowman of Van Nuys is a possibility.

For the women’s competition, in which national champion Nancy Kerrigan is committed, the USFSA is holding out for 1992 Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi. But it appears as if she will not be available. The same is true for former Olympians Rosalyn Sumners and Jill Trenary. It might be time for the USFSA to ask Debi Thomas to come out of retirement. Or Peggy Fleming.

According to the Nielsen ratings for 1992, the four sporting events seen by the most television viewers in the United States were pro football playoff games. The next three were figure skating events from the Winter Olympics.

They rated ahead of both the sixth game of the World Series between the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays, and the NCAA championship game between Michigan and Duke. Two other figure skating events from Albertville were among the top 15. But there was only one Summer Olympics entry in that group, a show featuring gymnastics and swimming that ranked 11th.

Wendel Suckow of Marquette, Mich., became the first U.S. luger ever to win a gold medal in the World Championships with his singles victory last week at Calgary, Canada. He did not come from nowhere, but almost.

Suckow, 25, was 12th in singles and ninth in doubles in last year’s Winter Olympics and stands 15th in this year’s World Cup singles standings.

The withdrawal of Mita Copiers as a sponsor of the New York Games jeopardizes the future of one of only two U.S. outdoor track and field meets on the Mobil Grand Prix circuit. Los Angeles promoter Al Franken said he has had discussions with two potential sponsors about filling the void with a meet here this summer.

The only world-class outdoor meet scheduled for Southern California so far this year is the April 15-17 Mt. SAC Relays at Walnut. An HBO proposal to match Carl Lewis against Mike Powell in the long jump and Linford Christie in the 100 meters in Los Angeles fell through, but the BBC might still attempt to promote two Lewis-Christie match races, one in Great Britain and one in Los Angeles.

If Butch Reynolds wins a medal in the 400 meters in the March 10-14 world indoor track and field championships at Toronto, he said International Amateur Athletic Federation President Primo Nebiolo will act like “Adolf Hitler refusing to shake Jesse Owens’ hand.”

Responded Nebiolo: “Butch Reynolds is a good boy, but he is badly advised to release such rash statements. He’s comparing himself to Owens. With all due respect, there’s a lot of difference. I hope someone calms him down.”

After his proposal during a USOC board of directors meeting at Phoenix to cancel the next meeting was defeated, George Killian, the president of the international basketball federation, said: “These people don’t want to give up their perks. I enjoy the social aspects. The hors d’ouerves last night were delicious. But is this what it’s all about?”

And upon winning the Jesse Owens International Trophy Award as the top athlete for 1992, gymnast Vitaly Scherbo said his compatriots in Belarus “are probably not much interested in this award. Everybody is looking for food.” Perhaps they should go to a USOC meeting.