The 75-year-old from Illinois, who previously served as the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) chairman from 2004-2008, is perhaps best known in the Olympic Movement for his role as President of the Los Angeles 1984 Organising Committee.

Under Ueberroth's leadership, Los Angeles 1984 became the first privately funded Olympic Games which resulted in a surplus of $238 million (£147 million/€181 million).

That money continues to support youth sports across the United States.

Ueberroth, who also served as the Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner from 1984 to 1989, takes the award after it was first shared by Daniel Doctoroff and Patrick Ryan in 2010 and given to Henry Kissinger in 2011.

It is named after William E. Simon who was USOC President from 1981 to 1985 and served as US Secretary of the Treasury for three years under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

Ueberroth received the award at the annual USOF Luncheon and Awards Ceremony in New York.

The Ceremony also saw Ann Cody and Pat Summitt honoured as the pair shared the George M. Steinbrenner III Sport Leadership Award.


Cody has been a tireless advocate for the Paralympic Movement and helped the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) establish a policy on gender equity.

The former Paralympic track and field champion serves on the IPC's Governing Board and on the USOC's Paralympic Advisory Committee.

Summitt coached the Tennessee Lady Vols from 1974-2012 where she won eight national championships and 32 combined Southeastern Conference titles.

She ended her career at the helm of the UT women's basketball team with a 1,098-208 overall record.

Summitt brought that same standard of excellence to USA Basketball, having been a member of the team that won the Olympic gold medals at Montreal in 1976. 

The USOF itself was established after Los Angeles 1984 to benefit Olympic, Paralympic and amateur sports in the United States.

Its objective is to support the USOC and its member organisations.

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