Rulon: USOC must support athletes

Monday, May 5, 2003 | 10:02 a.m.

Scandal and infighting are just two elements that have plagued the poorly run U.S. Olympic Committee, which has been forced to appear before Congress because of its ineptitude.

Governance and administration costs have dramatically soared over the budget distributed to athletes.

"The USOC needs to become more of an organization to represent the athletes who are representing them," said Rulon Gardner, super heavyweight gold medalist from the 2000 Games. "One hand washes the other. We represent the USOC.

"I think good changes are going on at the USOC. It doesn't need to be political or an organization that causes controversy."

The Senate Commerce Committee, chaired by Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), has begun digesting the extent of the USOC's inefficiency and will likely determine a course for reorganization.

"We need to support our athletes," Gardner said. "We don't need someone in there who is not about them or only about one athlete, it's about all these athletes, in general. And the USOC shouldn't be about one person, either."

By Rob Miech