The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation Tuesday that would dramatically scale back the U.S. committee’s governing structure and provide more congressional oversight, in the hopes of bringing more accountability to the scandal-ridden organization as well as the introduction of a House bill diagramming a similar reform plan.
But several Olympic officials say both bills remain out of compliance with International Olympic rules and could create problems for the USOC if adopted.
Under the new legislation the new USOC board of directors would be dramatically scaled back from 124 members to just nine members, plus the U.S. delegates to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and a representative from the Olympic Assembly.
Sen. Ted Stevens, a co-sponsor of the bill along with Sen. John McCain said, “I believe the reforms in our bill today are necessary adjustments that will return the focus of the United States Olympic Committee to our original intent, our American athletes”.
U.S. IOC member Anita DeFrantz said neither bill complies with the Olympic Charter, the document that governs membership in the Olympic movement through the IOC. DeFrantz said she hopes to communicate her concerns in the coming days.
The USOC has had four chief executives and three presidents since the 2000 Sydney Games, and a bribery scandal involving Salt Lake City’s 2002 Winter Olympic bid.
The legislation now requires the USOC to remain in Colorado Springs unless the full board and a super majority of the larger U.S. Olympic Assembly agree on moving the organization.
The bill now goes to the house.
