Team Integrity places governance reform at the heart of a campaign to enshrine athlete protection in law and keep abusers out of sport
The campaign led by Team Integrity, including a Who’s Who of Olympic champions and medallists, to have Congress pass the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 designed to safeguard athletes and lock rogues out of sport is gathering momentum, with the support of a large group of bipartisan politicians in the United States.
In a statement issued from Washington, D.C., Team Integrity, namely The Committee to Restore Integrity to the USOC and U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Unbroken, have urged Congress to pass S2330 legislation, with reform of HR3303 legislation, “designed to remedy the governance and structural deficiencies in the Olympic Movement”.
The Team Integrity Statement reads on:
Together, we represent the largest group of Olympic Movement members, those with significant experience working inside the Movement as athletes, coaches, sport governance leaders, academics, and lawyers for athletes. In addition, 72 survivors of athlete sexual abuse are part of the coalition. While we are critical of current governance, our support for these reforms comes from our admiration and esteem for America’s Olympic Movement and its potential to inspire greatness and unite us all. It is a gem worthy of our efforts to protect and improve.
Team Integrity and USOPU members have been working with Congress steadily for over many years to expose the inner working of an organization shrouded in prestige and mystique. Those of us with direct experience dealing with the leaders and board members knew of the inside harmful policies, that enriched the corporation at the expense of America’s athlete well-being. Nassar’s sexual abuse was the symptom that finally exposed the scourge of athlete powerlessness, and all the ways Olympic governance worked against athletes.
This bipartisan legislation combines important and necessary provisions developed by Senators Moran and Blumenthal to reform the governance of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), along with creating a 16-member Commission. As pioneered by Senator Gardner and Congresswoman DeGette, the Commission is charged with further updating the 1978 Amateur Sports Act over a nine-month period. All provisions have been meticulously bargained; we ask for no amendments.
“I am encouraged to see such strong support from the survivors, Olympians, athletes and coaches for the Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act,” said Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).
“I remain committed to working with my colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives to get this legislation across the finish line and cement these much needed reforms.”
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut):
“We wouldn’t be here without the courage and conviction of the survivors who have stepped forward to share their stories and demand change. We are fighting tirelessly to heed these calls for reform and won’t rest until this legislation is signed into law. Our priority has always been first and foremost to protect and empower athletes. That is why we are so proud to have the support of this broad, diverse coalition of Olympians, Paralympians, national team members, elite athletes, coaches, trainers, and staff.”
Nancy Hogshead-Makar, J.D., OLY, Co-Chair, Team Integrity:
“The Olympics are a unique treasure that celebrate the best in humanity. For most Olympians and Paralympians, we are proud of giving our heart and soul for the opportunity to be the best, and to be associated with the five-rings. The Olympic Movement allows millions to strive for excellence, to be the best-of-the-best, bolstering our American identity. This strong collective showing of support for governance changes will give the Olympic Movement that opportunity to be the best it can be. We are united in moving towards fixing a broken sport governance system on behalf of those most vulnerable in the Olympic Movement.”
Ed Williams, J.D., OLY, Co-Chair, Team Integrity:
“Team Integrity urges Congress to act. The USOPC has shown that it is either unwilling or unable to turn itself around; it needs this federal legislation to reform in support of our athletes. Congress’s proposed legislation recognizes the USOPC’s structural deficiencies, and it will provide significant governance remedies. Even if this legislation passes, it is not the end. Team Integrity and others must be ever vigilant and demanding to ensure that the needed cultural changes also take place within the USOPC.”
For background, see more at: www.USOPU.info, including:
- Team Integrity US Olympic Committee Financial Report, outlining a lack of fiduciary duty to athletes… or anyone: http://bit.ly/
USOPCFiduciaryChanges - Team Integrity Recommended 12 Changes to the Olympic Movement: http://bit.ly/12ChangesUSOPC
- Memo: “The USOC knew NGBs were not complying with the Amateur Sports Act, knew athlete sexual abuse was a frequent, recurring problem, and made the calculated decision not to act on behalf of athletes.” Sent during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. https://swimmingworld.
azureedge.net/news/wp-content/ uploads/2018/02/usoc-memo- congress-blackmun. - Athletes Rebuke USOPC Board regarding Scott Blackmun’s $2.4M Severance: http://bit.ly/BlackmunRebuke