The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President has been impressed with the USOC chairman Larry Probst and chief executive Scott Blackmun, who have made a determined effort recently to build bridges with the Olympic Movement.

Rogge told today's edition of the New York Times: "You [the US] are the number one country in terms of sporting results.

"You are the country who has organised most Olympic Games, and we are very grateful for that.

"You are a country which creates sports leaders and great athletes, and you are also a country that supports financially a lot of the Olympic Movement.

"There has been a time - and that was fortunately long ago - when the governance of the United States Olympic Committee was not a good one, with instability, rapid changes of leadership that would not last for long and were replaced by others.

"We have a high respect in your leadership.
 
"I say your leadership also has understood that the United States must be inclusive - not to live in splendid isolation, but open up to the world and especially developing countries."

Rogge was visiting New York City, where yesterday he helped launch the Dow Chemical Company's $75 million ($49 million) sponsorship of the IOC.

The deal is also expected to help solve some of the problems the USOC and IOC are having on their long-standing dispute over revenue splits.

The sides are trying to reach an agreement on how much the USOC should pay toward the administrative costs of putting on the Olympics.

Adding a new sponsor puts more money into the pot and makes it easier for the USOC to compromise on the Games-cost issue.

The administrative-costs issue is part of a bigger agreement between the parties to begin negotiations in 2013 on a new revenue-sharing formula to go into effect in 2020.

The USOC currently receives s a 20 per cent share of global sponsorship revenue and a 12.75 per cent share of US broadcast rights deals.

Many international officials think it is too big a portion.

There was also a row last year over USOC plans to set-up their own Olympic television network, which IOC officials feared would jeopardise their own negotiations for a new TV contract in the US.

It all contributed to Chicago being eliminated at the IOC Session in Copenhagen in the first round of voting for the 2016 Olympics, which were awarded to Rio de Janeiro.

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