Peter Ueberroth named Chair of new U.S. Olympic Committee Board of Directors, and 11-Person Board an

* USOC Completes Historic Governance Transition Process By Naming 11-Person Board of Directors COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - One of the most recognized and respected leaders in the Olympic movement, American business and the world of sport was introduced today as Chair of the new United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Board of Directors. Peter Ueberroth (Laguna Beach, Calif.), who served as President of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (LAOOC) for the landmark 1984 Olympic Games, will Chair the USOC Board of Directors. Ueberroth, 66, developed the financial and operational blueprint upon which the Olympic movement continues to flourish two decades after the Los Angeles Games. Under his leadership and management, the first privately-financed Games generated a surplus of $238 million that continues to support youth and sports programs throughout the United States. Just as importantly, the Los Angeles Games rekindled the Olympic spirit and helped further the Olympic ideals in the United States and beyond. Faced with the prospect of an Olympic boycott in May 1984 by the former Soviet Union, East Germany and other Soviet-bloc nations, Ueberroth convinced China and Romania to participate in the Los Angeles Games, and a total of 140 nations entered teams, creating a major success which paved the way for the gathering of the Olympic family in Seoul in 1988. It ushered in an era of unprecedented prosperity and interest in hosting the Games by scores of cities around the world, which remains strong today. The USOC's share of the surplus, some $143 million, helped create the U.S. Olympic Foundation, a watershed of additional financial support for American athletes which still exists, and each USOC National Governing Body received $1.3 million for its benefit. The USOC had guaranteed some $25 million against a shortfall from the 1984 Games and in return was awarded a 40-percent share of the eventual surplus, along with a 20- percent share that went to the NGBs. Ueberroth was honored as the 1984 Man of the Year by both Time Magazine and The Sporting News, and is a recipient of the prestigious Olympic Order from the International Olympic Committee. He is a strong supporter and advocate for the bid by New York City to win the honor of hosting the 2012 Olympic Games, and recently appeared in New York to speak on behalf of NYC2012 and its efforts. Following the Los Angeles Games, Ueberroth went on to serve as Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1984-89. Today, he serves as Managing Director of Contrarian Group, Inc., an investment and management company based in Newport Beach, Calif. He is also Owner and Co-Chairman of the Pebble Beach Company, Co-Chairman of the Board of Ambassadors International, and a member of the Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company and Hilton Hotels Corporation. Ueberroth replaces Bill Martin (Ann Arbor, Mich.), who has served as Acting President of the USOC since February 2003 and led the organization through its historic governance transition. "I am honored to once again have the opportunity to serve a movement and a cause that makes such an important difference in the lives of so many," Ueberroth said. "In accepting this assignment, I want to thank Bill Martin and the members of the outgoing USOC Board of Directors for their dedication and commitment to the Olympic movement. We look forward to their continued contributions. "The outgoing Board wanted a new day for the USOC, and indeed this is a new day," Ueberroth added. Joining Ueberroth on the 11-person USOC Board of Directors, which is seated and assumes its duties beginning today under the organization's new bylaws, are: Bob Ctvrtlik, Newport Beach, Calif. · U.S. member of the International Olympic Committee · President, Green Street Properties LLC Erroll Davis, Madison, Wis. · Independent Director · Chairman and CEO, Alliant Energy Anita L. DeFrantz, Los Angeles, Calif. · U.S. member of the International Olympic Committee · President, Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles Jim Easton, Van Nuys, Calif. · U.S. member of the International Olympic Committee · Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Easton Incorporated Jair Lynch, Washington, D.C. · Nominated by the Athletes' Advisory Council · Founder, The Jair Lynch Companies Mary McCagg, Cambridge, Mass. · Nominated by the Athletes' Advisory Council · Assistant Publishing Manager, Candlewick Press Jim McCarthy, Chicago, Ill. · Nominated by the National Governing Body Council · Attorney-at-Law, private practice Mike Plant, Peachtree City, Ga. · Nominated by the National Governing Body Council · Executive Vice President of Business Operations, Atlanta Braves Dr. Harold Shapiro, Princeton, N.J. · Independent Director · President Emeritus and Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, Princeton University Stephanie Streeter, Neenah, Wis. · Independent Director · Chairman, President and CEO, Banta Corporation Today's announcement represents the final step in the most sweeping governance transition in the history of the United States Olympic Committee. The governance reform process began in February 2003 with the appointment of a 10-member Governance and Ethics Task Force by Martin. The process included six hearings before various committees within the United States Congress and the appointment of a five-member Independent Review Commission upon the recommendation of the Senate Commerce Committee. Co-chaired by Frank Marshall (Santa Monica, Calif.) and Bill Stapleton (Austin, Texas), the USOC Governance and Ethics Task Force was charged with developing a new, more efficient governance structure that would better serve the USOC, its National Governing Bodies and America's athletes. Among the final recommendations made by the Task Force and approved by the outgoing USOC Board of Directors last October in Cleveland were: · A reduction in the size of the Board of Directors from 125 to 11 · A reduction in the number of standing committees from 23 to 4 · No longer having an Executive Committee as part of the USOC governance structure · Clear delineation in the responsibilities of members of management and the Board · A refined mission statement for the organization that places an emphasis on providing support for America's Olympic and Paralympic athletes · The creation of an Olympic Assembly The new USOC Board of Directors was chosen by a four-person Nominating and Governance Committee, which was appointed by Martin on March 11 and chaired by Justice Theodore R. Boehm (Indianapolis, Ind.). Other members of the committee were Julie Foudy (Mission Viejo, Calif.), Samuel L. Guillory, M.D. (New York, N.Y.) and Robert S. Rollo (Los Angeles, Calif.). The committee reviewed almost 200 nominations for the four Independent Director positions on the new Board, as well as six nominations submitted by the National Governing Body Council and six submitted by the Athletes Advisory Council for four positions (two each) on the Board. As stipulated by the Olympic Charter, the U.S. members of the International Olympic Committee are automatically members of the USOC Board of Directors. "I want to extend my best wishes to Peter and the members of the new Board," Martin said. "I know that I am leaving the leadership of the USOC in very capable hands. Over the past 16 months, I have had the honor and privilege of serving this organization during a critical period. With the help of many outstanding individuals, we have completed a governance reform process of which we can be proud, and, more importantly, one which will benefit our athletes far into the future." "We had many, many outstanding candidates from throughout the United States who either were nominated or expressed an interest in serving on the new USOC Board of Directors. This speaks to the strength and importance of the Olympic movement in our country," said Boehm. "We thank all those who were either nominated or applied to serve, and congratulate and offer our best wishes for success to those who have been selected." "The new governance structure