Larry Probst Pledges Commitment To USOC In Meeting With NGBs

By Tripp Mickle, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Probst Pledges Commitment To USOC To NGBs

USOC Chair Larry Probst gathered eight national governing body (NGB) representatives yesterday in S.F., where he confirmed his commitment to lead the USOC and pledged to create a task force to review the organization's governance structure, according to sources. The meeting came in response to a recent call for Probst's resignation by the Association of Chief Executives for Sport (ACES) and support for that call by the NGB Council. Sources described the meeting as overdue and beneficial, adding that it helped quell many of the concerns NGB execs had about the USOC and allowed Probst to show his determination to lead the organization. Sources said NGB execs voiced several frustrations about the USOC, including concerns about the lack of NGB representation on the USOC board, insufficient communication between NGBs and the USOC, and questions about the USOC's leadership and governance. Probst committed to improving the USOC board's transparency and offered to recommend that the board allow observers or ex-officio representatives at USOC board meetings from stakeholder groups like the NGB Council or the Athlete Advisory Committee (AAC). He also pledged to create a task force that would evaluate the USOC's governance structure, which was created in '03, and determine what has worked, what has not worked and what could be changed to make the organization more effective in the future.

MEETING DESCRIBED AS PRODUCTIVE: Sources described Probst as candid and open-minded and called the talks productive, adding that they should benefit Probst as he tries to heal the divide that has emerged between the USOC and NGBs over the last year. Attendees at the event included Steve Penny (USA Gymnastics), Skip Gilbert (USA Triathlon), Dick Coe (US Ski & Snowboard), Doug Logan (USA Track & Field), Chuck Wielgus (USA Swimming), Max Cobb (USA Biathlon), Glenn Merry (US Rowing) and a representative from USA Team Handball. USOC Board Member and Stanford Univ. AD Bob Bowlsby also attended.