Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 20 augusT 2019

USOPC proposes

more athletes on board

as part of overhaul

By EDDIE PELLS — a detailed examination
AP National Writer of the troubled federation
DENVER (AP) — The U.S. released earlier this sum-
Olympic and Paralympic mer — it fell far short of im-
Committee is taking steps plementing all the recom-
designed to help athletes mendations in that report,
in the wake of Olympic sex- either. It did heed athletes’
abuse scandals, proposing calls for more representa-
an increase in their num- tion, proposing an increase
bers on its board and a re- of their makeup on the
casting of its mission state- board from 20% to 33%.
ment to include the job of But under this proposal, the
promoting their well-being. extra 13% could come not
These changes are part of from the Athletes’ Advisory
a proposal, released Mon- Council but from the U.S. In this July 23, 2016, file photo, a representation of the Olympic rings are displayed in the Olympic
day, to rewrite the USOPC Olympians and Paralympi- Village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
bylaws. The proposal ans Association, an alumni Associated Press
comes 20 days after feder- group that had gone large- and other sex-abuse scan- culties of finding active and are very much like what
al lawmakers — looking for ly unmentioned in much of dals, though critics say the recently retired athletes Congress proposes — the
a shake-up in the wake of the reform talk to this point. process is taking too long who can devote the time USOPC would take greater
the Larry Nassar scandal — The USOPC would change and not going far enough. and brain power to run- control over NGBs, call-
rolled out their own drastic the top line of its mission In reality, there is no quick ning these complex orga- ing for annual audits and
overhaul of the law govern- statement to read: “em- way to overhaul an 87- nizations. Some of the most a more formalized compli-
ing the USOPC. power Team USA athletes page document that is drastic rewriting would ance mechanism.
The USOPC portrayed its to achieve sustained com- filled with legalese and tip- come in the area of the That would, in theory, leave
proposal as merely a first petitive excellence and toes through the confusing USOPC-NGB relationship. no doubt that the USOPC
step and, indeed, the mea- well-being.” Previously, the nature of the relationship NGBs are responsible for the is ultimately responsible for
sures lack many of Con- well-being part was not involving the USOPC, the day-to-day running of the an athlete’s welfare — a
gress’ more aggressive pro- mentioned. national governing bodies sports they oversee. They status that was left danger-
posals, which included a The USOPC will hear com- (NGBs) that run the individ- get money from the USOPC ously hazy, as has been re-
quadrupling of funds for the ments on the proposal for ual sports and the athletes. and need the federation’s vealed in numerous legal
U.S. Center for SafeSport 60 days before the board The USOPC proposal would blessing to be part of the filings and congressional
and a provision that gave votes on it. give athletes more say in Olympic pipeline, though hearings, to say nothing of
Congress authority to fire Its leaders say athletes are the way they govern them- the direct lines between the testimony of dozens of
the entire USOPC board. at the center of the over- selves and in the running NGBs and the USOPC has gymnasts who spoke dur-
And while the USOPC did haul they are trying to exe- of the federation itself. It always been murky. ing Nassar’s sentencing
mention the Borders Report cute in the wake of Nassar doesn’t delve into the diffi- Under new rules — which hearing.q

Woods

watching the guys on TV.” inside the ropes to watch Woods spoke vaguely of
It will be the 15th time in his Woods cap off his come- his back not being right
career that Woods did not back from four back sur- in the cold of Bethpage
show up to defend a title geries by beating the best Black for the PGA Champi-
on the PGA Tour, remark- players. onship in May, his first tour-
able considering that Fred And then he did it again nament since the Masters.
Couples only won 15 times where it really matters — a He never got on track at
in his career. The other oc- major. Pebble Beach for the U.S.
casions of not defending Woods needed some help Open. After another long
a title usually involved a from Francesco Molinari’s break, he missed the cut
change in the schedule, tee shot into Rae’s Creek at the British Open and
a tournament ending or on the 12th hole in the final then simply wanted to get
Tiger Woods hits from a bunker on the 13th hole during the health reasons. round at Augusta National home.
final round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at This is the first time because , and similar blunders by But he won the Masters,
Medinah Country Club, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, in Medinah, Ill.
Associated Press he wasn’t eligible. Brooks Koepka and Tony and that makes up for a
It was mildly surprising that Finau, but he looked like lot.
Continued from Page 17 onship next week at East Woods even made it to the Woods of old instead “It’s like I told him coming
Lake. Medinah to give it a try, of an old Woods with his off 18, he’s got the jacket.
He closed with an even- “It’s disappointing,” and he looked fairly nor- mistake-free finish for a That’s all that matters,”
par 72 in the BMW Cham- Woods said about not re- mal, except for some rust. 15th major, his first in 11 caddie Joe LaCava said.
pionship and tied for 37th, turning to Atlanta. “I wish I He gave it his best shot at years. “I’d be lying if I told you I
nowhere near what he could have. Last year cul- returning to the scene of Just like that, the count to wasn’t disappointed with
needed to move into the minated in a pretty spe- perhaps the biggest mo- Jack Nicklaus and his 18 the second half of the
top 30 in the FedEx Cup cial moment for me, and it ment in golf last year — a majors was on again. In- season. If I was happy and
and advance to the sea- would have been nice to victory at East Lake, with stead, that was as good satisfied, I shouldn’t be in
son-ending Tour Champi- go back there. But I’ll be thousands of fans spilling as it got. the industry.”q