(ATR) The United States Olympic Committee board of directors heard from Los Angeles 2024 bid leader Casey Wasserman for the first time since it was selected as the U.S. nominee this month.
"We spent about an hour with Casey Wasserman. Casey went into a lot more detail with regard to their plan, activity, strategy and next 90 days. I think we had a really productive session with Casey - a lot of interactive discussions and a lot of details with how we’ll be moving forward," USOC chairman Larry Probst told reporters following the board meeting in Colorado Springs
USOC chief executive officer Scott Blackmun said that there are not many substantial differences between the current bid and the one presented last winter when Boston was selected over LA, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
"Casey Wasserman is mid-stream in assembling a team. He brought a few of the team members with him today and introduced them to the board. It’s remarkable how much progress he has made in less than a month, 24 days. He gave the board a lot of confidence that he has the passion and the vision to get this done," said Blackmun.
Probst and Blackmun both said they did not anticipate problems with the organizing committee that have caused issues with American bids in the past.
"Scott and I already have developed really high quality relationships with Mayor Garcetti and Scott has worked with Wasserman for many years. I’ve known Casey since he was 17 years old. We have a high level of confidence in those two gentlemen," said Probst.
"Our teams are talking literally every day. They view us as a resource more than anything else and I think that’s always been the case. We are on the same page and we have a lot of mutual respect and trust," said Blackmun.
Los Angeles stepped in to be the USOC candidate to host the 2024 Games after Boston dropped out of the running in July. Blackmun says there is a different energy surrounding this L.A. bid.
"I feel excited. With L.A. we just feel excitement. We see opportunity, we see possibilities," Blackmun said.
Scott Blackmun Receives Contract Extension
During the meeting, the board of directors offered unanimous support for the extension of chief executive officer Scott Blackmun’s contract through the 2020 Olympics.
The deal is set to run until June 30, 2021 with the possibility of a four year extension to 2025 through a mutual option between Blackmun and the board. Blackmun's annual pay package is approximately $980,000 a year.
"There was a unanimous opinion that it was absolutely the right thing to do. It’s in recognition of the great job Scott has done since he was first hired in 2010. He has provided terrific leadership to the organization and developed a high level of respect internationally," said Probst.
The extension could provide stability for the USOC through the 2024 Games, particularly if Los Angeles is chosen as the host city in 2017.
Disappointing Results from World Championships
Probst and Blackmun both acknowledged that Team USA’s performance at the recent FINA swimming and IAAF track and field world championships was not up to standards.
"Both of those organizations have high expectations at world championships and everyone is aware there is work to be done to get ready for Rio," said Probst.
Blackmun gave a few possible explanations for these performances.
"In swimming I think it was the team was picked a year in advanced and we didn’t have some of our best swimmers like Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin. In the case of track and field we won 18 medals and that’s not where we wanted to be but it’s within shouting distance of a few really close performances," Blackmun said.
Probst said both teams will be on track by the Games next summer in Rio.
USOC Trusts IOC with Rio Water Quality
Scott Blackmun briefly discussed the water quality controversy currently surrounding the preparations for Rio 2016. Blackmun says he has full faith in the IOC to make sure the competition conditions are safe for the athletes.
"We’ve spoken with the USA Swimming a number of times. We have complete confidence the IOC will ensure the conditions are safe but at the end of the day we think the more information we can get into the hands of the athletes the sooner the better," Blackmun said.
Written and reported in Colorado Springs by Kevin Nutley.
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