IOC Officials Blast USOC In Latest Dispute Over Rights, Revenues
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Verbruggen Angry After
ASOIF Meeting |
IOC officials yesterday at a meeting of the Association of Summer Olympic Int'l Federations (ASOIF) at the Sportaccord conference in Denver "unloaded on the USOC in the latest escalation of an ongoing revenue dispute" between the two organizations that "could threaten Chicago's bid" for the '16 Olympics, according to Alan Abrahamson of UNIVERSAL SPORTS. IOC honorary member Hein Verbruggen: "I feel we have been taken by the nose for three years by the USOC. That's my conclusion. I am angry." The USOC gets 12.75% of the U.S. TV rights fee and 20% of "top-tier Olympic marketing revenues," and Verbruggen called the situation an "abuse." The ASOIF later "unanimously adopted a motion recommending the IOC give 'immediate notice' of an intention to terminate the existing agreements with the USOC and commence negotiations for a new deal." ASOIF officials "candidly acknowledged Tuesday they each and all simply need more money," and they also "want the USOC to assume a share of what are generally referred to as 'Games costs,' including such disparate expenses as contributions to the World Anti-Doping Agency and the costs of sending referees and judges to the Olympics" (UNIVERSALSPORTS.com, 3/24). In Denver, John Meyer reports the USOC delegation "expects to meet" with ASOIF President Denis Oswald, as well as fellow IOC Exec Board members Gerhard Heiberg and Mario Vazquez Rana, "in an effort to find a solution" (DENVER POST, 3/25).
NOT BACKING DOWN: USOC officials yesterday said that they "would not be pressured to reach a solution." USOC VP/Int'l Relations Bob Ctvrtlik: "We're looking for a long-term solution. ... It's not easy. It is complicated. I think we all just need to do that in a nice, calm manner." UNIVERSAL SPORTS' Abrahamson reported the IOC Exec Board is "due to consider the matter later this week with IOC president Jacques Rogge likely to address the matter at a news conference on Friday." Any move to "terminate the existing deals would likely trigger calls for congressional hearings, among other highly politicized steps." The dispute "threatens to prove a distraction" for the Chicago 2016 bid, as it is "unclear ... whether the dispute can be resolved by October," when the IOC will vote on the host for the '16 Games. Ctvrtlik: "We feel the IOC members evaluate bids on their merits. We would hope this wouldn't be a distraction." Abrahamson wrote the USOC comments yesterday "marked a significant turn" for the organization, as USOC officials "have consistently declined to speak for the record about the dispute." But the message the USOC "clearly sought to convey, no matter how heated any IOC rhetoric: calm, steady, reasonable." Ctvrtlik: "We have a fresh team. We have fresh thinking. We have meetings set up the next two days. We think we should let the process work itself through and let's see what comes of these meetings." Abrahamson noted the USOC is set to earn about $450M from the TV rights fee and marketing revenues for the '09-12 Olympic cycle, which is "more than the other 204 national Olympic committees in the world, combined" (UNIVERSALSPORTS.com, 3/24).
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Ryan Trying To Distance Chicago's Bid Effort
From Revenue-Sharing Dispute |
BLOWING THE BID OFF COURSE? USA TODAY's Vicki Michaelis writes Chicago 2016 Chair Pat Ryan, who is in Denver to "present Chicago's case" for the '16 Games, is "trying to distance the bid effort from the revenue-sharing dispute." Ryan: "It really has nothing to do with the bid. I can't say that some people in their minds as they study the issue are totally capable of separating the bid from the issue. ... The sooner it's resolved, the better" (USA TODAY, 3/25). In Chicago, David Heinzmann notes IOC officials "will spend four days next week listening to presentations" in Chicago from Chicago 2016 officials, who "hope to dazzle IOC evaluators with the city's storied lakefront." Chicago 2016 Communications Dir Patrick Sandusky said that over the course of the visit, which concludes April 7, the Chicago group will "make 17 presentations to the visitors." The IOC evaluators will "meet with Chicago officials for a private reception and meeting on April 3," and the bid team will "take the officials on a winding tour of proposed venues on the morning of April 5." The Chicago 2016 organizers "plan a 'cultural event' at a location they declined to disclose" on April 6 (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/25).
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