More than 900 representatives of sports organizations are
expected to attend the '94 U.S. Olympic Congress opening in
Nashville today.  The Congress focuses on the Olympic movement
and the needs of USOC member organizations.  ACOG CEO Billy Payne
is to give a progress report on preparations for '96.  The 3-day
convention includes workshops on sports marketing, sports
commissions, sponsorships and sports facility and equipment
partnerships..  About 120 exhibitors representing convention
centers, sporting goods companies and other retail outlets also
are present (Athelia Knight, WASHINGTON POST, 11/10).  Yesterday,
the Congress staged a "day-long give-and-take on organizing youth
sports."  It was intended to "encourage grass-roots activists to
do more with less," because money is scarce for young athletes
(ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/10).  Also on the agenda is a first
look at proposals to revise the code of conduct athletes must
follow to call themselves Olympians (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/10).

     "Breaking into the boardrooms and policy-making committees
of the U.S. Olympic movement is proving harder for women and
minorities than winning medals."  A USA TODAY survey shows
"significantly less representation on boards of directors than on
national teams."  Women make up 42% of the athletes on teams from
39 sports federations in the Olympic program but just 26% of the
board members.  Ethnic minorities comprise 16% of the teams and
"only" 10% of the boards.  USOC President LeRoy Walker is
appointing task forces to "develop solutions."  As a whole, the
U.S. Olympic movement's boardrooms are "nearly 40% less diverse
than its playing fields."  The USA TODAY survey shows the
national governing boards for track, boxing, tae kwon do and judo
are doing the best job of placing minorities on their boards
(Mike Dodd, USA TODAY, 11/10).