In DC, Sally Jenkins writes Congress "should knock down" the USOC and "get rid of the bilkers who skim cash off the sweat of our greatest competitors and give them little or nothing in return." Execs for the organization "maximize their own earnings, while devoting only the barest cash minimums and lip service to the actual care of athletes." The USOC is "supposed to be a nonprofit, yet 129 of its staff make over six figures, and 14 of its execs are paid more than $200,000." Every American "should find this organization insupportable." Three congressional committees presently are "investigating the gymnastics abuse scandal, and they should broaden their inquiries to include a thorough evaluation of the USOC leadership, as well as the leadership of each sport" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/27).
NOT OUR BEST SHOWING: In Philadelphia, Bob Ford noted Team USA "pretty much soiled the bed" at the Pyeongchang Games. In the alpine and figure skating events that "form the backbone of the Winter Games, the U.S. team had an almost unbelievably poor showing." The USOC has "vowed to do better and to put added resources into developing top-level competitors, even if that means narrowing the pool of athletes to a more select few." Predicting brilliance is a "difficult proposition, and sometimes a wider net is the better way to go" (PHILLY.com, 2/26). In Colorado Springs, David Ramsey writes "expect serious soul searching" at the USOC HQ after this year's performance (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 2/27).
LEAVING A GREAT GAMES: In San Jose, Elliott Almond noted Pyeongchang was the "best-run Olympics" since the '12 London Games and it "left an indelible mark to give athletes a reason for renewed faith in an event that was fraying at the edges" after Sochi and Rio. It established a "standard for the next two Games that also will be held in Asia." Luxury buses "shuttled passengers to events mostly on schedule." Security was "handled expertly and without delays." The biggest complaint anyone could muster was "how cold it was for the first 1½ weeks" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 2/26).
