United States Olympic Committee Reform (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Jan. 5, 2005 |
| Report Number |
RL32208 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Nathan Brooks, American Law Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Over the past ten years, a number of scandals involving the United States Olympic Committee
(USOC) have shaken the public's confidence in the USOC's ability to effectively
lead the American
Olympic movement. In particular, critics have leveled significant criticism at the USOC's
governance structure, leading to repeated calls for Congress to step in and make changes to the way
the USOC is run. In response, in the 108th Congress, there were four bills proposing structural and
procedural reform of the USOC. While the four bills differed in their approaches, they all followed
the general recommendations of the Independent Commission on Reform of the United States
Olympic Committee report, in that they attempted to streamline the USOC's governance
structure
by reducing the number of members sitting on the Board of Directors and separating the volunteer
corps from the professional staff. In addition, the bills each advocated varying degrees of
independence for the majority of the elected Board members, the establishment of four standing
committees, annual reporting requirements, decennial review of the USOC's governance
structure,
and the implementation of whistleblower mechanisms. This report first summarizes the law
governing the USOC - and the history that shaped it - and then covers the recommendations of the
Independent Commission and proposed legislation. This report will be updated as developments
warrant.
