BEHIND THE RINGS: Inside the Olympic Movement

What a Deal

With lightning moves and secretive meetings, NBC outflanked competitors and captured the rights to broadcast the Sydney Games and other Olympics through 2008. The price tag: $3.5 billion. An examination of the deal provides a rare view of the high-stakes game played by the networks and the International Olympic Committee. Five years later, NBC’s rivals are chagrined that they did not have a chance to bid. Fifth of a seven-part series leading to Sydney. A1