The task force, which was appointed following lengthy corruption scandals surrounding the USOC,
recommended that Congress drastically and quickly restructure the USOC through legislation and afford members with no direct USOC ties much more authority.
The panel's recommendations in many ways mirror those presented by a USOC task force two months ago. Both groups envision a lean, corporate structure with a nine-member board of directors, down from the current 123, and more power for the chief executive officer.
The congressional panel's plan, however, gives majority voting rights to independent board directors — those with no vested interests in the various and wide-ranging USOC constituents. The USOC's current ruling body, a 20-person executive committee, has no independent members.
"It's going to go a long way toward making (the USOC) much more streamlined and raise its credibility in the eyes of the American public," said Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
Following the release of the task force report, Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday to discuss the recommendations of both the USOC task force and the congressional panel.
Legislation could be drafted as early as next week to amend the 25-year-old Amateur Sports Act, which put the USOC in charge of the USA’s Olympic program. Legislation then would have to be passed in order to amend the act.
The existing USOC board of directors meets in October to vote on changes. Any legislation will frame the decisions that are made. The congressional panel recommends having the new USOC structure in place by January 1, 2004.
A congressional panel task force from the US government has recommended that the power held by the US Olympic Committee be handed to an independent board of directors.
