Juan Quixote?

By Anthee Carassava/New York

Olympians are urged to aim high, but might it be a tad excessive for the scandal-plagued International Olympic Committee to aim for a Nobel Peace Prize? Not to JUAN ANTONIO SAMARANCH, the body's mercurial president, who is said to be lobbying "feverishly" for a plan to stage the Games in Seoul in hopes that this would engender warm feelings between North and South Korea and possibly cement reconciliation. "It's a brilliant I.O.C. comeback plan," says a source familiar with Samaranch's ploy. "After all the scandals, the corruption and sycophancy, the I.O.C. can finally be seen as contributing to international peace and security." To carry out his plan, Samaranch, due to retire in July, would have to strip Athens of the 2004 Games. But the terrorist bombs that rock the Greek capital, plus delays in the preparations, could give him an excuse. He may also see the Nobel as the perfect retirement gift; it comes with a check for close to $1 million.

--By Anthee Carassava/New York