Op Ed: USOC Faces Credibility Test for Chicago 2016

(ATR)Just when it looked like the U.S. might have a winner in the race for a Summer Olympics, the USOC may have dropped the baton with a sudden leadership change barely six months before the IOC votes on the host for 2016.

Out as CEO: Jim Scherr, Olympian and well-known amongst the Olympic family after six years in the job. The new chief: Stephanie Streeter, supposedly wise to the ways of the USOC after four years as board member, but unknown outside the boardroom. Her appointment follows the naming last October of another Olympic outsider, Larry Probst, as the new USOC chairman.

Both come with top corporate credentials, but next to no demonstrable experience in dealing with the politicking, diplomacy and issues of the Olympic Movement.

For Chicago to win the 2016 Olympic bid, Probst and Streeter will have to convince both international and domestic stakeholders that the change they represent is a positive. With time running out on the Chicago bid, the two will have to move quickly to make those inroads.

That's why it's a bit surprising that neither appeared even for a courtesy visit at this week's meeting in Guadalajara of the Pan American Sports Organization executive committee. Hardly a deal breaker but the meeting is a vivid example of how the USOC leadership regards relations in its backyard.

USOC vice president Bob Ctvrtlik ably represents the U.S. at these meetings. But his colleagues on the PASO executive are at a different level of leadership, such as Carlos Nuzman, president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee - and the Rio de Janeiro bid for 2016, maybe Chicago's main rival.

On hand as an invited guest at the Guadalajara meeting was Alejandro Blanco, president of the Spanish NOC - who of course is closely involved with the campaign of Madrid for 2016.

While neither Nuzman nor Blanco were waving the flag for their respective Olympic bids, their presence is noticeable for the absence of those at the top of the USOC.

That said, the U.S. is not squandering opportunities either. The U.S. delegation for the opening of the new headquarters for the Olympic Council of Asia in Kuwait this week included Chicago 2016 chair Patrick Ryan and USOC international relations director Bob Fasulo.

A huge opportunity awaits the USOC in 10 days when the movers and shakers of the Olympic sports world gather for Sportaccord in Denver. When picked two years ago, Denver was seen as a chance for the U.S. to showcase its aplomb and grace as a host for international sports meetings.

Now, with new faces at the top of the USOC, the timing could not be better for Probst and Streeter to show that the baton was only juggled in the handoff to Chicago, not left lying on the track 10 steps behind.

Written by Ed Hula

Op Ed is a weekly column of opinion and ideas from Around the Rings. Comments, as well as guest columns are welcomed: comment@aroundtherings.com