L.A. Executive Expected to Get Helmick’s IOC Seat

International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch probably will recommend that James L. Easton, president of archery’s international federation, fill the U.S. vacancy in the IOC, sources close to Samaranch said Wednesday.

A Samaranch endorsement would virtually ensure Easton’s election by the IOC’s 89 members Monday. If this occurs, both IOC representatives in the United States will be from Los Angeles. Anita DeFrantz was elected in 1986.

Samaranch was expected to meet with U.S. Olympic Committee officials at the conclusion of the Olympic Centennial Congress’ second session Wednesday night to inform them of his decision.

In July, USOC President LeRoy Walker presented Samaranch with a list of four preferred candidates that included former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, USOC Executive Director Harvey Schiller, USOC Vice President Michael Lenard and International Swimming Federation Vice President Ross Wales.

Samaranch expanded the search to include the three international federation presidents from the United States--Easton, George Killian of basketball and Don Porter of softball.

Ultimately, sources said, it was Easton’s involvement with a sports federation that earned him Samaranch’s support over Young, chairman of Atlanta’s organizing committee for the 1996 Games.

In step with the Congress’ theme of unity, Samaranch has promised to give federations more representation within the IOC. Of 10 members due to be elected Monday, he said this week that six will be presidents of international federations.

But there has been so much political infighting among candidates for those 10 positions and their supporters that Samaranch has threatened to postpone the election until next year. That, sources said, would be the only obstacle preventing Easton from becoming an IOC member Monday.

It also would be frustrating for those involved with the Olympic movement in the United States, which has been without a second IOC member since Robert Helmick resigned under pressure amid a conflict-of-interest inquiry in 1991.

Easton, 59, is president of a $100-million-a-year international sporting goods manufacturer, James D. Easton, Inc. and Easton Aluminum, Inc. of Van Nuys. Started by his father, the company was initially known for the aluminum arrows it manufactured but has diversified under Easton’s leadership to produce ice hockey sticks, baseball and softball bats, golf club shafts, ski poles and bicycle tubing.

Like DeFrantz, Easton was an official with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee in 1984. Besides his duties as commissioner of archery, he also was mayor of the athletes’ village at his alma mater, UCLA.

Elected in 1989 as president of FITA, archery’s international federation, he introduced changes to the competition that are credited with persuading the IOC that the sport should not be considered for elimination from the Olympics.