If they ain't coming,
why build it? - Silver

Stalls on stadium, sez city an Oly 'long shot'

By MICHAEL SAUL
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU

Dismissing New York's bid for the 2012 Olympics as a "long shot," Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver defiantly declared yesterday he won't be swayed by the nation's top Olympic official's plea to approve the proposed West Side stadium.

"Paris, as they say in sports, [is] the odds-on favorite," Silver said, infuriating Olympic officials nearby. "Let's say that to the public, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Governor: 'We are a long shot at best.'"

In a front-page story in yesterday's Daily News, U.S. Olympic Committee Chairman Peter Ueberroth warned Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno that they "would grievously damage New York's Olympic bid and America's Olympic movement" if they failed to approve the stadium.

The project needs the support of both lawmakers.

The 115-member International Olympic Committee will select the 2012 host city on July 6. In addition to New York and Paris, the other finalists are London, Moscow and Madrid.

A member of the International Olympic Committee told The News yesterday that the stadium is the "linchpin" of the city's bid - and it was essential for it to be approved by June 6, when the IOC evaluation commission publishes a major report.

"I have personally spoken with probably over half of the IOC members - the stadium is a major concern to them," said the IOC member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "If the stadium is not approved, it would be extremely difficult for New York to win."

Roland Betts, President Bush's representative on the city's bid committee, even raised the embarrassing specter of New York dropping out.

"If we do not have clarity on this stadium - either an absolute vote that the stadium's approved or a vote saying the stadium is approved subject to winning in Singapore - then we won't even go," he said. "There would be no reason to go."

Betts also lambasted Silver's critical assessment of New York's chances of winning.

"We have a very, very good chance to win this thing," Betts said. "I strenuously disagree with that."