For decades, the Olympic movement has promoted itself as the United Nations of sport, a force for fair play. Then came reports of gift-giving and other corruption in Salt Lake City's bid for the 2002 Winter Games. Hot Corner Letters Email Sports Dept. A Ragtag Team on a Spaghetti Budget Solidarity money doesn't go far for this Olympic squad from Peru, a nation reeling from poverty. Many of Peru's best athletes train in bunker-like rooms under the stands of the national stadium.
Stains mark the ceilings and walls.
The odor of urine is strong enough to stop a visitor at the door. A boxer works out under the stands of the national stadium in Peru. Years of urine from soccer fans created the cracks in the concrete above his head. A national Olympic official explains that the soccer fans above are known to relieve themselves right where they are sitting, saturating the concrete, which has begun to deteriorate. The boxing team does not seem to notice as its fighters take turns pounding on truck tires with steel bars to strengthen their shoulders.