SALT LAKE CITY?Salt Lake’s chief Olympic organizer said Tuesday he was frustrated by IOC bureaucracy that prevents him from speaking directly with athletes about security for the Winter Games.

Mitt Romney said there was little he could do to calm the fears of two French skiers who say they are afraid to travel to the United States after the Sept. 11 attacks and more recent anthrax infections. One of the skiers even suggested postponing the games.

Romney said he has to go through the International Olympic Committee in order to communicate with foreign athletes or even their national Olympic committees.