Anita DeFranz, one of the two U.S. members on the IOC, has
"become one of the Olympic movement's more influential members,"
according to a front page WALL STREET JOURNAL piece by Emory
Thompson. DeFranz is the "only woman on the 11-member IOC
Executive Board ... and the first black woman ever elected to
it." The JOURNAL's Thompson notes "now, her name even surfaces
in backroom discussions about the committee's top job." DeFranz
is President of the Amateur Athletic Foundation and under her
leadership the group awards over 700 grants totaling nearly $32M
to youth sports programs. But DeFranz has "drawn criticism"
early in her IOC tenure, as her "direct style did not sit well
with all IOC members." IOC Exec Board Member Richard Pound, said
DeFranz is "learning" to be "more politically sensitive." But
"her backing clearly counts within the Olympic movement," as many
suggest DeFranz's influence "had much to do with" the '94
selection of the only other U.S. member on the IOC Jim Easton.
Donna Lopiano, Exec Dir of the Women's Sports Foundation: "It's
incredible that many don't see what a force she is. But you
can't find her fingerprints unless you look very carefully" (WALL
STREET JOURNAL, 6/28).
