USOPC gets positive report card
USOPC receives positive report card from Borders on reforms
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee received a positive progress report from the committee that analyzed the federation’s problems and recommended dozens of changes a year ago.
The Borders Report, spearheaded by former WNBA Commissioner Lisa Borders and released last summer, included a detailed road map for the USOPC to make athletes the top priority after years of adhering to what was described as a “money for medals” philosophy.
The report listed 39 steps that needed to be taken, many of which would lead to increased athlete representation across the U.S. Olympic team and increased oversight over the sports organizations that fall under the USOPC umbrella. The Borders group said the USOPC was well on its way to implementing 34 of the recommendations, and at least part of the way on the other five.
“People can forget the Borders Commission and the year it was written, but what they can’t forget is that athletes should be at the heart of all this,” Borders told The Associated Press in giving a positive review of the work done.
The USOPC’S way of doing business came under an increasingly harsh spotlight in the wake of sexabuse scandals involving gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar and others. It led to a number of independent reviews of the federation, capped off by the one headed by Borders and nine others on the commission.
While the USOPC has pushed forward with changes — including trying to direct more money and resources toward athlete training, mental health and benefits — Congress has been moving ahead with legislation that would incorporate many of the same changes while updating the law governing the USOPC.
The two efforts are largely moving along parallel tracks, though the congressional bill has some features, including giving lawmakers the ability to remove the entire USOPC board, that go beyond any suggestion from the Borders Report.
“We are supportive of the bill and prepared to implement the elements that haven’t already been implemented through our own governance reforms,” CEO Sarah Hirshland said.
The calls for reform have been loud and come from many corners. But the details of actually reforming the 125-year-old federation — a heavily balkanized, highly political organization responsible for thousands of athletes — is detail-oriented work that realistically could take years.