In the first contested presidential race in USOC history,
Bill Hybl, Chair of the Colorado Springs-based, El Pomar
Foundation, defeated USOC VP Michael Lenard by a count of 91.04
votes to 88.68 votes, according to Mike Spence of Colorado Spring
GAZETTE TELEGRAPH. Hybl won by the "narrowest of margins," as
Lenard would have won if one athlete or national governing body
had voted the other way. Spence notes the elections "ended the
USOC's first true political campaign. It was often contentious
and on occasion turned into a bitter battle between two factions
vying for control" of the USOC and its $100M budget (Colorado
Springs GAZETTE TELEGRAPH, 10/27). Hybl said his first
priorities would be to place more women and minorities on the
"influential USOC committees," work more closely with grass-roots
organizations such as the YMCA, and to find new sources of
funding to help athletes. USOC insiders say Hybl's style is
"teamwork and consensus building," and his first remarks were
aimed at mending fences with Lenard. He said several Lenard
supporters would hold key positions in the USOC (Thomas Heath,
WASHINGTON POST, 10/27). Despite the close vote, "no cries were
raised for a recount." Hybl: "My first priority is to be part of
the resolution of divisiveness" (Jay Baltezore, SALT LAKE
TRIBUNE, 10/27).
GET ALONG: In his last speech as USOC president, LeRoy
Walker "pleaded for unity," according to Mike Spence of the
Colorado Springs GAZETTE TELEGRAPH. Walker: "Organizations, like
civilizations, don't just disappear. They perish a little at a
time because of internal strife" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE
TELEGRAPH, 10/27).
THE BUDGET: In Salt Lake City, Jay Baltezore notes that the
USOC's internal differences come at a time when the groups
coffers are "bulging -- in part the result of successful
marketing deals growing out of" the '96 Atlanta Games. However,
Baltezore writes, with the next two games set for Japan in '98
and Australia in 2000, American corporations are "unlikely to be
as generous with their sponsorship money. That means a shrinking
USOC budget over the next few years" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 10/27).
Early figures have the USOC's budget dropping from a high of
$426M for the '93-96 quadrennium to $393M for the '97-2000
quadrennium (Colorado Springs GAZETTE TELEGRAPH, 10/27).
2000: Other USOC officers elected were: Sandra Baldwin, VP;
Andrew Kostanecki, Secretary; and James T. Morris, Treasurer. In
Chicago, Philip Hersh notes Baldwin is "in line" to become the
USOC's first woman president in 2000. Hersh: "After four years
with its first black president, Dr. Leroy Walker, the USOC has
returned to its past presidential mold: a white, conservative
male" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/28).
