Let's not be hasty

Triathlon Forum
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USAT to split from its USOC affiliation? As usual there is obviously much more to be considered than simply a resolution presented by Jack Weiss. Although nothing is public except unattributed leaks, the USOC is apparently looking into the current board and management structure at USAT. “insiders” raise the specter of losing assets, create a crisis environment. Nothing public acknowledged. Certainly this review is completely “uncalled for”. I mean what are they thinking? Just because the NGB recognized by USOC for triathlon suffers a lawsuit, overturned elections, petition uprising by membership, creates possibly ungovernable by-laws, loses an executive director, loses a deputy director, new board intervenes resulting in public embarrassment and confusion for the sport’s national championships, fails to hire a new director even three months after search is concluded.

If there was ever a call for an outside audit this is that time. At the very least to see what’s going on and possibly work to see how the future can be mapped. Maybe figure out whose fingerprints are on the knife?

Yet, one more time, a completely knee jerk reaction from a board member. If your going to try to hold USAT accountable then screw USOC. This is especially embarrasing given 1. There has been no public disclosure or aknowledgement of an audit 2. There has been no presentation of findings as far as we know.

Rather than guess at what we don’t know, lets at least consider what we do…

The Secretary of the Board has proposed a resolution severing ties with USOC. In calmer times this should certainly be a consideration.

So what could USAT gain by severing?: 1. $300,000 additional funds for meeting the purposes of USAT. 2. No outside oversight from a larger licensing governing body of US amateur athletics 3. No distraction from serving the age group athlete 4. No more need to deal with the ITU and further our public board embarrassments at an international level [is that whats behind this?}

What coud we lose?: 1. Its called BRANDING…USAT’s primary legitimacy and moral authority comes being recognized by USOC and meeting Olympic NGB Standards. Without the monopoly recognition granted by USOC, USAT simply becomes an amateur sports group. Ever wonder why non WTC Ironman races don’t fill up. Ironman is a brand that is recognizable to the amateur athlete. Only 40-50 athletes qualify for Kona at an IM race but people want to be part of something recognizable. If USAT means anything to the amateur athlete other than insurance its being part of something we all recognize. USOC and the Olympics give USAT legitimacy is the eyes of the media and amateur athlete. 2. USOC and ITU will have to create a competing NGB to conduct athlete development and select Olympics team members. 3. Sponsorships? Non triathlete specific sponsors look to USOC as a quality assurance and high organizational standards (I am not saying they achieve this, but perception is 99% of reality). USOC is the United Way of sports federation. Your symbol of quality.

I am suggesting the resolution is hasty, unthinking and I am very suspicious of the motives of an outgoing board member. USAT is in desperate need to have the newly elected board step back, do their policy development job, clarify USAT role and purpose. Its been a rudderless ship for the last two years, reeling from ego driven crisis to ego driven crisis. This is not the environment to consider or make as drastic and deeply fundemental change as walking away from USOC affiliation. Especially before the newly elected board is in place.

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“USOC and the Olympics give USAT legitimacy is the eyes of the media and amateur athlete.”

Are you KIDDING? First off, there’s the assumption that the USAT has legitmacy in the eyes of the amature athlete. The typical athlete has no clue as to the purpose, role, or position of USAT or it’s relationship with the USOC. Second, the triathlon that occurs in the Olympics bears resemblance to the sport amateur athletes experience in name only. Third, the USOC is hardly widely accepted as a legitimate and ethical organization.

Now your point about the resolution being hasty. Maybe so. Hopefully the board and membership will think long and hard about this before jumping into action.

Sorry, but the flowery rhetoric about the USOC, legitimacy, and quality are a little hard to take.

3

I have not really been following this situation, but it really does seem to be unfortunate - unfortunate for the sport of triathlon, because whatever you say or whatever your feelings for the sport and the ITU style of racing, the Olympic event is a great showcase for the sport. For just about every other sport of significance in the world, their Olympic event/final is THE key event.

I contrast what’s going on in the US with the situation here in Canada. While not perfect, their does seem to be concensus that TriCan and the National Program are doing some good things. Of course, it helps, that we have an Olympic Gold Medal courtesy of Simon Whitfield and on the women’s side a reasonably deep program with several women in or near the top 10 world rankings. The US has this as well - a bronze medal for the women and great international credentials for Hunter Kemper and the women but the US wins truck loads of Olympic medals in other sports so, perhaps triathlon is not that high up on the USOC’s list of key sports. In Canada, medals of any colour are in short supply in ALL sports, so triathlon looks good by comparison in the eyes of the COC, with it’s recent record.

Fleck

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“Second, the triathlon that occurs in the Olympics bears resemblance to the sport amateur athletes experience in name only.”

I don’t understand. They swim, the bike and then they run. How can that not resemble what other triathletes do. How I run( slow) does not resemble how Paul Tergat runs(Fast), but it’s still running. There is a continuence and a bond there.

Fleck

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"First off, there’s the assumption that the USAT has legitimacy in the eyes of the amature athlete. The typical athlete has no clue as to the purpose, role, or position of USAT or it’s relationship with the USOC. Second, the triathlon that occurs in the Olympics bears resemblance to the sport amateur athletes experience in name only. Third, the USOC is hardly widely accepted as a legitimate and ethical organization. "

In the world I work in, naive donors and sponsors are approached all of the time with charity requests. They don’t know anything about 501 (c) 3 status/standards etc. They look to United Way as a recognized body. United Way has its share of scandals as well, but the donors don’t know this. UW does however have a stringent checklist of standards that must be met to be a United Way member. and United Way markets this. I believe USAT provides a “perception” of legitimacy precisely because of the USOC affiliation. Amateur athletes don’t know what goes behind the sanctioning, but they do see a relationship to the Olympics when its presented. Just like selecting a 10K that UST&F sanctioned and the course certified. In the sanctioning business there is a disconect between marketing and reality. Regardless…that USOC is “allegedly” reviewing USAT as an organization and a board member suddenly suggests severing ties. Its kind of like insisting on going to a sanctioned race, telling all of your friends how cool the sanctioned race is, and then withdrawing in a huff from the race when you receive a penalty. “I knew there were rules…I just didn’t think they applied to me”.

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MY perception of USAT’s legitamacy has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with it’s affiliation to USOC. USAT is the monopoly. They have the most members. They are the name at all the races I do. The fact that they have more members speaks to their legitamacy in a democratic fashion more than USOC affiliation ever could.

7

“USOC and the Olympics give USAT legitimacy is the eyes of the media and amateur athlete.”

Are you KIDDING? First off, there’s the assumption that the USAT has legitmacy in the eyes of the amature athlete. The typical athlete has no clue as to the purpose, role, or position of USAT or it’s relationship with the USOC. Second, the triathlon that occurs in the Olympics bears resemblance to the sport amateur athletes experience in name only. Third, the USOC is hardly widely accepted as a legitimate and ethical organization.

Now your point about the resolution being hasty. Maybe so. Hopefully the board and membership will think long and hard about this before jumping into action.

Sorry, but the flowery rhetoric about the USOC, legitimacy, and quality are a little hard to take.