USOC and USFencing - Discussion

[500gms]

USOC to Audit US Fencing


According to SI the USOC will audit and intervene into certain aspects of the USFA management immediately to provide funds to athletes and coaches who will represent the USFA at Bejing.

The article paints a dismal picture of our present President, Nancy Anderson and the managing director, Michael Massik, and implies that Stacy Johnson's and Steve Sobel's intervention during the unsuccessful recall two years ago unfortunately kept Massik and Anderson in office for the remaining two years

[swordsen]

Lord, what a nightmare. I think the saddest part is

"Many were strikingly concerned about speaking up directly, for fear that their standing within the fencing community would be jeopardized. For years the complicity of silence allowed leadership that was increasingly overburdened with responsibilities that went over their heads to remain idle. "When people are afraid to put themselves out there and rock the boat," says one member, "the boat just keeps sinking. That's what happened with us."

This can clearly be seen even here where posters refuse to use names when talking about stuff that is going on.

Well, it will be interesting to see what will happen. Any comments from the candidates for office?

[Craig]

I've been sitting on this story for a few days pending some response from the USOC to a couple of questions.

There are a number of athletes who have not been getting paid from funds that are designated for the US Team members.

Craig

[telkanuru]

Now that is a damning report.

Good to hear, though.

[sionnach]

Nice to see the sport getting some publicity..... fantastic article. How on earth have these people been allowed to remain in place?... Some of the facts in the article utterly defy belief.

Originally Posted by Article

" The memo included 22 pictures of playful kittens with captions that read, in part: "2004 has sped by; now, we need to face 2005." It ended with a photo of one kitten cleaning another with the caption: "And, most importantly, never forget to love those dearest to you."

Wow. Were the current officers actually elected? Was there any sort of vetting? If the president was replaced with icanhascheezburger.com would anyone have noticed?

[dcmdale]

Originally Posted by the article

Additionally a one-time bequest of $360,000, specifically earmarked in two equal parts for training and preparation for the 2004 and '08 Olympics, was folded into the general budget, contrary to the terms of the gift.

Ouch.

[dekko]

There are many ramifications of this, if it's true. If it is true, what does this mean for 'insured' clubs of the USFA? Are they truely insured? Or, does the money paid for a year merely get you on the website in the club section? When the website bothers to be up?

Does anyone have a true indication of what other operational expenses haven't been paid? We know about the coaches, refs, etc but what about the insurance and other expenses that don't get discussed that often?

It is interesting to learn that winning a gold medal gets you $25K from the USFA. Must have missed that in the ops man.

[rocky]

Too bad the recall effort failed. If it had worked, maybe we would've been spared this mess.

[sionnach]

$59,000 to $61,000 owed to three sabreuses, that's absolutely shocking. Even with financial assistance given on time and in full, international fencing is an expensive pursuit. I hope they get properly compensated for the financial sacrifices they've been making because of the breathtaking incompetence and deceitful conduct of the usfa

[DJ Apostrophe]

From what I was told Mariel deferred the $25k so as not to interfere with NCAA eligibility. She has now said that she would like it to be paid, and therefore it should, but saying it takes 4 years is disingenuous (provided my first sentence is correct).

-w

[KD5MDK]

Originally Posted by sionnach

It just takes 4+ years for it to arrive.

$59,000 to $61,000 owed to three sabreuses, that's absolutely shocking. Even with financial assistance given on time and in full, international fencing is an expensive pursuit. I hope they get properly compensated for the financial sacrifices they've been making because of the breathtaking incompetence and deceitful conduct of the usfa

? According to the article, Mariel is owed 25+12k, Sada is owed (32-14)k and Becca is owed 6k.

EDIT: Oh, you meant in total. I thought you meant each.

[sionnach]

Originally Posted by DJ Apostrophe

From what I was told Mariel deferred the $25k so as not to interfere with NCAA eligibility.

Ah, i was unaware of that. Still though....

[Craig]

Originally Posted by DJ Apostrophe

From what I was told Mariel deferred the $25k so as not to interfere with NCAA eligibility. She has now said that she would like it to be paid, and therefore it should, but saying it takes 4 years is disingenuous (provided my first sentence is correct).

-w

According to the article, the 25k should have been placed into an escrow account where nobody could touch it until she concluded her NCAA eligibility.

The article implies that such an escrow account (or should we say "lockbox") was never set up.

Craig

[Craig]

The USOC just issued the formal release:

For Immediate Release
June 25, 2008
USOC to Oversee High Performance Program, Athlete, Coach Funding for USA Fencing
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The United States Olympic Committee will coordinate and oversee USA Fencing's High Performance Program for the 2008 Olympic Games and will supervise and guarantee the funding for athletes, coaches and programs leading up the Games.
Due to recent financial difficulties experienced by USA Fencing, the national governing body of the sport, the USOC in cooperation with USA Fencing has stepped in to make sure that the programs and financing are in place to sustain the NGB's High Performance Program. Paramount for the USOC is making certain America's fencers have the support and resources they need in preparing for and competing in the 2008 Olympic Games.
The USOC and USA Fencing will develop and implement the long-term solution for the NGB after the Games in Beijing.
The U.S. women's sabre team is ranked number one in the world and has high medal expectations for Beijing. Becca Ward is ranked number one in the world, Sada Jacobson is number two and Mariel Zagunis is ranked fifth.
Zagunis won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and Jacobson took bronze in the event. In 2006, the USA swept the medals at the World Championships with Ward taking the gold, Zagunis the silver and Jacobson the bronze. That year Ward also won the world title in the Cadet World Championships. In 2005, the women's saber team won the team gold medal at the World Championships. Ward also won the Junior and Cadet World Championships, giving her three world titles for the season. Jacobson won the World Junior Championships in 2003.
The U.S. men's sabre team narrowly missed a bronze medal in 2004, finishing fourth. Keeth Smart, the 10th ranked sabre fencer in the world, returns for his third Olympic team in the event for Beijing.
Seth Kelsey is currently ranked fourth in the world in men's epee.
A three-person committee will be appointed by the USOC to provide oversight to the program.
Twelve fencers will represent the United States in Beijing, including men and women's sabre, men's and women's foil and men's and women's epee. The USOC will finance these athletes with direct payments and funding for necessary expenses through the Games. Also financed by the USOC will be three replacement athletes who may be needed in case of injuries to the Olympic qualifiers.
U.S. Olympic Qualifiers
Sada Jacobson, Dunwoody, Ga. (women's sabre)
Becca Ward, Portland, Ore. (women's sabre)
Mariel Zagunis, Portland, Ore. (women's sabre)
Dagmara Wozniak (Avenel, N.J.), Replacement Athlete

Tim Morehouse, Bronx, N.Y. (men's sabre)
Jason Rogers, Los Angeles, Calif. (men's sabre)
Keeth Smart, Brooklyn, N.Y. (men's sabre)
James Williams (Sacramento, Calif./New York, N.Y.), Replacement Athlete

Emily Cross, New York, N.Y. (women's foil)
Erinn Smart, Brooklyn, N.Y. (women's foil)
Hannah Thompson, Rochester, N.Y. (women's foil)
Doris Willette (Lafayette, Calif.), Replacement Athlete

Gerek Meinhardt, San Francisco, Calif. (men's foil)

Kelley Hurley, San Antonio, Texas (women's epee)

Seth Kelsey, Brush Prairie, Wash. (men's epee)


For more information please contact the USOC's Communications Division at 719 866-4529.

[irishfolker]

Same article linked in the OP.

[HDG]

Nice picture of Becca at least…

[sionnach]

Originally Posted by HDG

Nice picture of Becca at least…

They should have had a picture of her brandishing a sabre threateningly with the caption "where's my money?! where's my money?!"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=M8JBo0VbF_Q

[tchwojko]

Beyond that the committee will make sure a board is in place that will run transparently and be accountable to its membership. "We absolutely want to make sure athletes have the full support they need to reach their potential in Beijing," says USOC spokesperson Darryl Seibel. "Going forward, we will start to identify where changes may need to be made within the organization."

Is the board referenced above a board for the High Performance Group, a board for the funds being provided, or for the USFA?

[jkdjeff]

Wow, that's horrible. Hopefully this will pave the way towards this mess getting cleaned up.

[GypsyScot]

Originally Posted by jkdjeff

Wow, that's horrible. Hopefully this will pave the way towards this mess getting cleaned up.

You have no idea how bad this is going to get, I may wait on renewing my membership for the time being...