Sacirbey does not think a delay until 2002 is feasible because of the Winter Olympics that year in Salt Lake City. And 2003 seems too far away. ''You want to maximize the benefits of this by doing it as soon as possible,'' he said.

Schiller said, ''They'll need a lot of economic wherewithal to get it done.''

Sacirbey would not rule out 2003. Bosnia is in no position to force anything. ''We're looking to work as partners,'' he said. ''We've had a good dialogue. No one wants to play hardball.''

The allure of Sarajevo to Turner Sports, which staged the Goodwill Games in Moscow (1986) and St. Petersburg, Russia (1994), would be to reclaim the original peaceful intent behind the event. Ted Turner launched the games in 1986 after the United States boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and the Soviet Union boycotted the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Last year, when the games came to New York City, their purpose was redefined to raising money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Unicef International.

Wimbledon Bidding

With Wimbledon over, so are NBC's and HBO's contracts to broadcast the tournament. NBC wants to continue, but HBO does not. ABC appears to be NBC's main rival, with ESPN, Fox Sports Net and the USA Network looking to replace HBO.

NBC is unlikely to bring in one of its cable units, MSNBC or CNBC, and would have to live with ESPN, Fox Sports Net or USA selling commercial time for the same event. (HBO carries no advertising.) NBC could team with Turner Sports, with which it is planning a football league, but it is not considered a strong possibility.

CBS is not likely to be in the fray because the All England Club would not be thrilled to have its Wimbledon jewel on the same network that carries the United States Open.