The United States Olympic Committee’s Governance and Ethics Task Force Saturday recommended a series of sweeping changes to the organization’s structure.
Among the proposed changes is the reduction in the size of the USOC Board of Directors from 125 to nine, and the elimination of the 23-member Executive Committee and its USOC officers. The Task Force also recommended reducing the number of standing committees from 23 to four.
‘This is a defining moment in the history of our organization,’ said Acting President Bill Martin, who appointed the Task Force in February and instructed it to present its preliminary recommendations at this meeting. ‘This was the day we stepped up and began fixing the structural problems in our organization.’
The co-chairs of the Task Force are USOC Vice Presidents Frank Marshall and Bill Stapleton.
The Task Force specifically recommended the following make-up of the nine-member board:
· Four independent directors
· Two directors selected from among individuals nominated by National Governing Bodies.
· Two directors selected from among individuals nominated by Athlete Advisory Council members, and
· One IOC member from the United States.
The four committees recommended by the Task Force are:
· Audit
· Compensation
· Ethics (comprised of non-Board members)
· Nominating and Governance.
The Task Force also recommended a clearer distinction in defining the responsibilities of the Chair of the Board and the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. Under the direction of the Chair, the Board of Directors would be responsible for setting expectations and defining success; overseeing the management of the USOC; and developing policies and focusing on long-term objectives.
The Chief Executive Officer would be empowered to lead and manage the USOC within Board policies and to meet Board expectations and definitions of success, and would be the person ultimately held accountable for results.
In addition to announcing its recommendations for restructuring, the Task Force also proposed a revised mission statement for the USOC:
‘Help U.S. and Paralympic athletes achieve sustained competitive excellence and thereby inspire all Americans, and preserve the Olympic ideals.’
‘Considering a redefined mission statement is as important as anything we accomplished today,’ said Martin, a volunteer leader for the USOC who is also the director of athletics at the University of Michigan. ‘In order for the USOC to be successful, we must have a clear understanding of our mission, mandate and expectations.’
The Task Force also recommended a once-a-year Olympic Assembly to provide a forum for feedback and input to the members of the Board and CEO, but not to govern the organization.
Members of the Task Force spent the balance of Saturday’s session obtaining feedback and input from every segment of the USOC Board of Directors. Late Saturday, the Athletes Advisory Council – led by Chair Rachel Godino – and the National Governing Body Council – led by Chair Robert Marbut – expressed their support for the principles of the recommendations made by the Task Force.
‘We were looking for the best governance structure we could create,’ Stapleton said. ‘I haven’t seen anyone that I would characterize as very unhappy, and we’ve gotten really constructive comments from people.’
For more information contact:
Bob Condron
U.S. Olympic Committee
Phone:719-866-4529