Five days after Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics was overwhelmingly rejected by the International Olympic Committee, the dysfunctional nature of the U.S. Olympic Committee burst into public view Wednesday.
A group representing the national governing bodies of U.S. Olympic sports passed no-confidence votes regarding the performance of acting chief executive Stephanie Streeter and board chairman Larry Probst, calling on both to resign.
Streeter announced she was withdrawing her name from consideration for the permanent post, saying she had decided to do so a month and a half ago. Probst said he did not intend to resign. Streeter took the job on an interim basis last March when former CEO Jim Scherr unexpectedly stepped down.
“I’ve spent most of my career in the corporate arena, and feel that I can make the greatest impact there,” Streeter said on a teleconference. “I love running large companies. It’s where I’ve been successful.”
Reports coming out of Copenhagen last week suggested Chicago’s failure to land the 2016 Games could be blamed on the IOC’s lack of confidence in the USOC. After Chicago was eliminated on the first ballot, IOC member Denis Oswald of Switzerland called it “a defeat for the USOC, not for Chicago.”
The IOC has quarreled with the USOC over several issues, including revenue sharing and the USOC’s unilateral creation of an Olympic television network in the U.S., which the USOC put on hold after IOC protests. IOC members also have complained about insufficient engagement by USOC officials internationally. NGB heads believe the USOC needs new leadership to repair its relationship with the IOC.
“Events over the past six months have caused the NGBs to lose faith in the USOC’s leadership,” said Skip Gilbert, chief executive of USA Triathlon and chairman of an NGB group. “The U.S. Olympic family has tried faithfully to muffle its deep concerns about the decisions and strategies made by the U.S. Olympic Committee Board of Directors, but we can no longer stand by and watch.”
On the question of whether Streeter could be an “effective leader,” the vote went 40-0 against her. Regarding Probst, the vote went 29-14 against.
“This is not a ‘vocal minority’ speaking out, but an overwhelming majority voice,” Gilbert said in an official statement. “The NGB CEOs lack confidence in the ability of the current USOC board and management to move the organization and the sports community in the right direction.”
Streeter announced her decision to withdraw from consideration of the permanent post before news of the call for her resignation leaked out.
“The (USOC) board has been great and supportive to work with, the NGBs have definitely shown me what passion and advocacy are all about, and I’m just looking forward to whatever the future holds,” Streeter said.
The USOC now is looking for its sixth CEO in 10 years, and Probst is the fifth to hold that post since 2000. Probst took the position after the 2008 Beijing Games, and conceded the revolving door in Colorado Springs has hurt the USOC in its relations with the IOC. He predicts it will take years to improve the USOC’s influence at the international level, which will be necessary to attract a future Olympics.
“Obviously, what we’re doing internationally is not living up to our expectations,” Probst said. “We’ve got to be different. We’ve got to change and we’ve got to be better. I think we need to shine the light on ourselves and figure out what we’re not doing properly, correct that and move forward in a positive way.”
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
Frequent turnover
The USOC is now looking for its sixth chief executive since 2000.
Norm Blake: 2000, for 10 months
Scott Blackmun: 2000-01
Lloyd Ward: 2001-03
Jim Scherr: 2003-09
Stephanie Streeter: 2009
