Olympic Games: Packer leaves Sydney board

Kerry Packer, the media tycoon and Australia's richest man, has resigned from the organising committee for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

A committee member since November 1993, Packer was the subject of media and political criticism earlier this year for not attending enough meetings.

He has written to the committee saying he would not be able to attend enough of the 14-member board's meetings next year to justify keeping his position.

"As the year winds to a close and I begin to make preparations for 1996, I am forced to face the reality that I cannot be certain of attending the number of meetings necessary to make a worthwhile contribution," Packer said in his letter.