US Justice Department investigators interviewed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, Juan Antonio Samaranch, as part of their investigation into the Salt Lake City Olympics bribery scandal, department officials said yesterday. They said investigators met Samaranch on Monday in New York City as part of the investigation into alleged corruption surrounding Salt Lake City's successful bid for the 2002 Winter Games.

The officials declined to give details about what Samaranch was asked and were unable to say whether he might be questioned further. The IOC said in December that Samaranch had agreed to make himself available for an interview. IOC officials confirmed Samaranch's appearance in the United States, and said he was now back in Switzerland.

Meanwhile, security measures for the Olympic Games in Sydney in September are likely to be the tightest ever mounted for a sporting event. After the bomb explosion in the Olympic village in Atlanta four years ago, every effort is being made to prevent the 2000 Games being disrupted.

But if ever the security staff already in place needed a reminder about how vigilant they will have to be a reminder came at the weekend.

When Peter Hore, well-known for disrupting high profile events, got onto the court during the final between Andre Agassi and Yefgeny Kafelnikov at the Australian Open tennis on Sunday all he was armed with was a camera.

Beijing is the early favourite to host the 2008 summer Olympics. The Chinese capital is one of 10 cities who have formally applied to host the Games. The other candidates are Bangkok, Havana, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Osaka, Paris, Seville, Toronto and Cairo.