OLYMPIC MONITOR

THE CLINTONS: EYES ON THE PRIZE

IN A CAMPAIGN YEAR, WHAT HAPPIER AND MORE PATRIOTIC backdrop could an incumbent leader want than an Olympics in his own country? President Clinton's advisers have closely studied how Ronald Reagan made use of the Los Angeles Games in 1984, even in his TV ads. It is Clinton's telegenic duty to declare the Atlanta Games open. White House communications director Donald Baer recently scouted Atlanta sites for other appearances by the "First Fan." Meanwhile, a series of public events will tie the White House to the Olympics, from Mrs. Clinton's presence at the lighting of the Olympic Flame last week in Greece to a ceremony on the White House lawn on June 21 honoring the 5,000 community heroes who will relay the torch across the U.S.

The Games present risks as well, including a terrorist attack. With such a calamity in mind, Vice President Gore and Clinton counselor Thomas F. ("Mack") McLarty are carefully overseeing the Games. Gore recently spent three hours in a bug-proof FBI vault questioning agents about their security plans. Almost 10,000 U.S. soldiers are slated to supplement workers in jobs where unscreened temps could make mischief, from bus drivers to cooks. The Federal Emergency Management Agency paid for some 110 Georgia state and local officials to attend a weekend course where they practiced how they would handle problems from mass heat stroke to terrorism. Another exercise this month will simulate a plane hijacking and a hostage taking to test how well federal agencies like the FBI, CIA and Secret Service can work with Atlanta police and officials.

TRACK: THAT ONE ELUSIVE VICTORY

FOR A YEAR NOW, EHTIOPIAN DISTANCE RUNNER HAILE Gebrselassie has looked little short of superhuman. Last summer on the track he was undefeated in races at four distances and set world records in three. His 5,000-m record of 12:44.39 bettered the previous mark by the biggest margin (10.91 sec) in 63 years and is widely regarded as the greatest track performance in history. This winter he competed indoors for the first time and set two world records, again by stupendous margins. He talked of running the 5,000 and the 10,000 in Atlanta and looked a prohibitive favorite in both.

His only challenge before the medal races was the World Cross Country Championships two weeks ago. He had entered the annual competition five times but had never beaten the Kenyans, who have dominated the event for 11 years. This year, in Cape Town, he felt things would be different. "Competing in Africa is a duty and an honor," he said. "I am ready to challenge the Kenyans." And he did, for four circuits of the five loop, 12.1-km course, running in a leading group of five that included three Kenyans. But at the start of the final loop he caught a spike on a log barrier and stumbled into the man beside him, defending champion Paul Tergat of Kenya. Tergat recovered and accelerated into the lead, but Gebrselassie seemedto lose heart, trotting home fifth, 44 sec. behnd Tergat.

Does the defeat dim his Olympic prospects? Only slightly. The Kenyans, who held four of the world records Gebrselassie broke, know what they're up against. "On the track he is tough," said Tergat. "He is the man to beat in Atlanta."

A BRIEF DAY OF REST

The International Amateur Athletic Federation is changing the Atlanta schedule so that Michael Johnson, the 200-m and 400-m world champion, can try to win both races in Atlanta--a feat no man has ever accomplished in the Olympics. The change is likely to add a rest day between events. "I couldn't ask for a better schedule," said Johnson. The I.A.A.F. is acceding in the hope that Johnson's heroics will give the sport a much needed boost in the U.S.

GUARDING PUERTO RICO

The tenacious defense and clutch shooting of junior guards Carmelo Travieso and Edgar Padilla are two key reasons why UMass has reached the N.C.A.A. Final Four. Then again, the two have always had a lot in common. Born on the same day (May 9, 1975) in Puerto Rico, they are roommates and best friends off the court. Now they're looking ahead to another unique pairing: they are likely to be the starting guards for the Puerto Rican Olympic basketball team in Atlanta.

THE SUSPENSE IS BUILDING

With 15 weeks to go until opening ceremonies, problems still plague construction at some of the venues. On March 18, two steel girders fell at the swimming arena, only minutes after ironworkers had been standing on them. The contractor said bad welding or insufficient bracing was the probable cause, and construction would not resume until the reason was found. Last year a worker died when a light tower collapsed at the site of the Olympic Stadium.