Repaid fare: Sang Lan

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE in Shanghai

 

Sang Lan, the gymnast paralysed at last year's Goodwill Games in New York, has accused media mogul Ted Turner's organisation of failing to help her.

 

"They did not live up to their promises," the 17-year-old who returned to Beijing last month said, according to the official Wenhui Daily.

 

Sang said the organisers assured her they would cover all costs after a highly publicised vaulting accident on July 21 left her with severe spinal cord damage.

 

"In the end, they didn't produce a penny," she said.

 

They lent her parents US$2,500 (HK$19,345) to buy air tickets but later asked her to repay the money.

 

Time Warner Inc, whose holdings include cable TV network CNN which was founded by Ted Turner, vowed to ensure her future.

 

"This corporation will do everything in its power to ensure her future is secure," said Harvey Schiller, president of Turner Sports.

 

But the gymnast, who has recovered some movement in her arms after months of intensive therapy, said she and her family were managing on the interest from a US$170,000 fund created with the help of private donors.

 

Sang said she would be returning further donations or re-contributing them to people less fortunate than herself.

 

The gymnast claimed she had been prevented from approaching US companies sponsoring the games for financial support. Sang was China's vault champion when she landed on her head during a warm-up.

 

Her plight was the big story of the fourth Goodwill Games, a largely made-for-television Time Warner event.

 

The company, which claimed to have lost US$109 million on the first three games, said they were a worthwhile "investment", because they created television programming for its networks as well as ties with corporate sponsors and prominent sports figures.

 

A spokesman for the Goodwill Games did not return calls seeking comment.

 

 

 

BY BILL EGBERT

Thursday, June 03, 1999

Paralyzed Goodwill Games gymnast Sang Lan has accused media mogul Ted Turner of reneging on a promise to help her financially after she broke her neck in a tragic accident in the middle of the games last year.

 

"They did not live up to their promises," Sang, 17, told the Wenhui Daily. "In the end, they didn't produce a penny."

 

At the time of the accident, Goodwill Games President Michael Plant said her family "won't have to worry about digging into their pockets to help their daughter in any way."

 

Last night, officials of the Turner-sponsored Goodwill Games said they were "astonished" by the article which was picked up by a French news agency and carried by the massive South China Morning Post and they detailed what has been paid so far.

 

Greg Hughes, a spokesman for Turner Sports, described a mysterious letter the organization received a few weeks ago from individuals claiming to speak for Sang, threatening to create negative publicity for Turner Broadcasting if it they did not provide more "contributions" to Sang Lan's trust fund.

 

Sang and her family live on the interest from a $170,000 trust fund created for her after the accident, Hughes said.

 

"It appears that someone is using the tragedy of Sang Lan to their own benefit," Hughes said.

 

He said that so far:

 

Goodwill Games insurance policies paid Sang Lan's medical expenses in the U.S.

 

Sang received an Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit from a separate Goodwill Games insurance policy.

 

Plant personally solicited contributions from the Games' corporate sponsors.