USOC CEO Search Begins; Rio Mayor Pledges Safety

USOC CEO Search Begins

(ATR) The search for a permanent CEO of the USOC begins this week.

A USOC committee will spend two days interviewing firms interested in conducting the search. As many as nine firms will be interviewed.

The names of the interested firms were not released. However, in the past, the USOC hired firms Spencer Stuart and Bialla & Associates to fill open high-level positions.

A nine-member panel, headed by USOC Board member and Stanford University Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby and USOC Board Chairman Larry Probst will lead the search committee.

“Within days” of interviewing firms they hope to select one to find the new CEO.

“We hope to get a lot of good ideas from people presenting,” Bowlsby was quoted by the Sports Business Journal. “We need an organized plan from a search partner that has some background with the USOC and familiarity with the Olympic family. We’re seeking to benchmark people within the Olympic family as well as people outside the Olympic family.”

Acting CEO Stephanie Streeter said she will not be a candidate for permanent CEO.

Dick Ebersol, one of the most influential Americans in the Olympics, criticized the use of a search firm for finding USOC leadership.

"You've either got people who were hired by search firms or people who don't care enough to make it their full-time jobs” he said.

Ebersol gave what his criteria for a CEO should be.

“This is a very complex job, to be the day-to-day CEO of the United States Olympic Committee, and it should be somebody who has a longstanding knowledge and execution of a large grass roots sporting organization,’’ he said.

Adding “they have an arrogance that’s mind-numbing. So I’m really hoping that someone who really has experience in dealing with all these things and the people and proven diplomats can come in and correct the problems with the rest of the world, which are severe.’’

Brazilian Authorities Pledge Safety

Following a weekend of drug-related gang violence, Rio de Janeiro's mayor said that his city did not hide its problems during the 2016 Olympic bid process.

Gang fighting in a slum in northern Rio killed at least 14. The death toll includes three police officers who died when their helicopter was shot down.

The slum is nearby Maracana Stadium. The stadium is the site for the opening and closing ceremonies for 2016 Olympics and the World Cup 2014 finals.

The violence occurred two weeks after Rio won the 2016 Games after beating Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo.

Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes said on Monday that his city "is being tough with these problems."

"We never hid our problems during the bid process — we always told people we had problems and we are facing the problems," Paes said Global Sports Industry Summit in London, the Associated Press reports. "We still have a lot to do, we have a long way to go and what happened this weekend showed that."

On Monday, about 1,700 officers were sent into the slum to hunt for criminals and secure the area.

Authorities have tough task to control crime in the city of 6 million people, a third of which living in slums. Last year, the city had 6,000 homicides. On Monday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva pledged that national government will provide Rio with any necessary help including National Guard troops.

On Monday, IOC Executive Board Member Craig Reedie of England defended the decision to award the Olympic to Rio. In comments to news agencies, Reedie recalled 52 deaths from terrorist attacks in London in the days after that city was awarded the Games.

"The IOC did look at safety. Rio is a big city," Reedie said. "I deeply regret what happened in Rio recently but I have to say that it pales into insignificance compared to what happened in London in 2005.

Briefs…

… Olympic boxing silver medalist Daniel Dumitrescu was arrested in Rome for stealing wallets from tourists at Vatican City. He won a silver medalist for Romania at the 1988 Games in Seoul.

… The 2011 Beach Volleyball World Championships will be held in Rome from June 17-26.

Written by Ed Hula III and Sam Steinberg.