Last year?s Olympic Track and Field Trials were by all counts extremely successful, with record attendance and local revenue figures near $24 million. However, an audit showed that the event left a deficit of about $1 million.

Sacramento City and County officials agreed last week to forgive the money owed them by the Sacramento Sports Commission, but an outstanding debt of over $80,000 is still owed to Sacramento State.

The University has not forgiven its loans and, in fact, has not even been asked to.”The University has not received any requests to forgive this money. There would be two written requests; one to the university and one to the students,” said Frank Whitlatch of Public Affairs.

The bulk of the money owed the university is for public safety for the use of Campus Police, according to Whitlatch. The remainder of the money is for use of the University Union.

Whitlatch also said that even though no requests to forgive the loans have been received, the university had no plans to erase the debt and that the Sacramento Sports Commission is still responsible for the money.

Most of the debt to the city and county was incurred during construction of the new track and decorating the stadium. The cost of the track was about $700,000 over budget. In addition, unauthorized photographs of sprinter Maurice Green used for advertising cost the sports commission another $30,000.

The Sacramento Bee?s advertising revenue earmarked for the event was $60,000 short and a fund raising reception that was projected to bring in over $100,000 earned only $2,000.

Other unforeseen expenditures were accrued when NBC ordered some 90 seats removed for its broadcasts and when professional agencies were hired to handle jobs that were originally supposed to be done by volunteers.

However, the oversights surrounding last summer?s event have not kept the Sports Commission from luring other high-profile attractions to Sacramento.

Because of the improvements to the stadium, the Commission has been awarded the 2001 Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships, to be held in July, and the 2003 NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships.

The commission has even begun raising money for the 2004 Olympic Trials, which were also given to Sacramento. It is the first time a city has been awarded consecutive trials since Eugene, Ore. had them from 1972 to 1980.