Conflicts Between USOC And USATF Hold Up Marathon Trials

USOC, USATF Sponsorship Conflicts Holding Up ’08 Olympic Marathon Trials

While several sources said that Boston and N.Y. have been chosen to host the ’08 U.S. Olympic marathon trials for women and men, respectively, USATF and the USOC “are wrangling over financial details,” according to John Powers of the BOSTON GLOBE. USOC Chief Communications Officer Darryl Seibel: “We have several issues which are commercial in nature which we need to resolve.” Powers noted the “key area involves conflicting sponsorships between the [USOC], which has final say over all trials, and [USATF].” USATF’s Glenn Latimer: “If it smells like an Olympic trials, you use the word ‘Olympics,’ and you have rings attached to it, there are very strict rules about what you can and can’t do” (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/19).