USOC Selects Electronic Games Whiz as New Chairman

Larry Probst officially takes over as USOC chair on Oct. 12.(ATR) An executive from a world-leading video game publisher will guide the U.S. Olympic Committee as its new chairman, promising to do all he can for the Chicago bid for the 2016 Olympics.

Lawrence Probst III, known by Larry, was selected for a four-year term as USOC chair during a meeting of the board of directors held by telephone.

Probst, 58, is well-known for his career as an executive at Electronic Arts, the California firm that is the world’s biggest developer and publisher of interactive entertainment. He currently serves as chairman of the board.

Probst is a new member of the USOC board, recruited about seven months ago by Peter Ueberroth. Since that first phone call, Probst has visited USOC headquarters and spent time at the Beijing Olympics. Last month he was named as one of two new members of the USOC board.

He replaces Peter Ueberroth who steps down as chairman officially at the October 12 meeting of the board in Orlando, Fla.

While Probst is not an athlete or sports administrator by background, he told reporters in a teleconference that he has had plenty of exposure to sports leaders through his work at EA. Sports, he noted, is a dominant theme in the video games and other products of the company.

Ueberroth says Probst will be the right person to guide the USOC as it seeks more corporate support in the current economic climate.

"Larry walks those halls better than I do", said Ueberroth in a telephone briefing with reporters following the board meeting.

“This position is exactly right for me. I have the bandwidth and the available time,” says Probst, using a bit of interactive-speak that may make him au courant in the boardrooms of high-tech firms.

He mentioned “landing the Chicago bid” as the firstPeter Ueberroth became USOC chairman in 2004. (ATR)on a brief list of to-dos for the USOC.

"I will do whatever is needed," on behalf of the Chicago bid for the 2016 Olympics, he said.

Probst named more corporate support and the establishment of an Olympic Network as other immediate business objectives for the USOC.

Along with Probst, Xerox president Ursula Burns was named to the 10-member USOC board last month.

Ueberroth remains on the board for two more years as an honorary president with no vote. Coming off the board is Bob Ctvrtlik, who loses his seat with the end of his term as an IOC member in August. He’ll remain with the USOC as vice president international.

Written by Ed HulaEd Hula.