The panel, led by former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, made a series of recommendations in its 24-page report.

But the most eye-catching was the call to increase the Board with calls for one of the new members to come from the Athletes' Advisory Council and another from among the leadership of the National Governing Bodies of Olympic sports.

The other two would be independent members.

In addition, the committee recommended that a minimum of one seat on the Board should be reserved for a person with Paralympic leadership experience, with the creation of a new Paralympic Advisory Council to be chaired by this representative. 

In 2003, the board was reduced from 125 members to 11 - a move the panel said was good overall, but needed slight adjustments.

Tagliabue said: "The strategies and initiatives critical to achieving the USOC's core mission need to be set by the USOC Board and then embedded in the USOC's organisational structure and culture.

"These strategies should be given consistent priority by the USOC's leadership and implemented on a sustained basis in the years ahead.

"At their core, the committee's recommendations recognise that the USOC needs to have a strong, engaged and collaborative Board, with an active role in oversight and strategic planning."

The report was commissioned partly as a result of the humiliation suffered last October by Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympics when it was eliminated in the first round of voting as the Games were awarded to Rio de Janeiro.

That followed New York City's failure to make an impression in the bidding for the 2012 Olympics, won by London.

The decision to create the role of first vice-president international - essentially created for Bob Ctvrtlik, who has since left - means that Blackmun will assume total control for rebuilding the USOC's shattered relationship with the international community.

Blackmun said: "I would like to thank Paul for the tremendous leadership he has shown through this process.

"All 14 members of the committee graciously volunteered their time to help the Olympic Movement in the United States continue moving in the right direction.

"As any of our athletes can attest to, success doesn't come overnight, and we will be diligent about discussing these findings, listening to our constituents, continuing to work hard and taking action at the appropriate time."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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