Governing bodies of other sports relieved USOC staying in Springs

Dan Cloppas, executive director of USA Badminton, had his staff cut in half in recent years and faced an uncertain future about where his organization would be housed.

When the U.S. Olympic Committee signed an agreement with Colorado Springs on Monday to officially keep the committee from moving, Cloppas was relieved.

"I'm glad we're staying in Colorado Springs," Cloppas said. "That would really be a disaster for our organization if the USOC moved, because I'm not sure we'd stay if they moved."

Badminton is one of a handful of national governing bodies that could move into a former Colorado Springs Utilities building on 30 S. Cimino Drive.

The USOC will be provided that office space as part of the agreement between the USOC and the city.

Boxing, taekwondo, judo and weightlifting are other candidates to move.

Cloppas said his staff has gone from six to three in recent years, but hopes a potential move will help him add staff, including a coaching director.

The NGBs in the new building could have shared services, such as a common reception area, central phone system, shared storage and shared administrative and finance employees.

USA Boxing CEO Jim Millman said that along with the cheaper and more efficient office setup, he thinks the USOC might provide financial subsidies to the NGBs that want to move to the new building.

"I would anticipate the spirit of what the USOC is trying to do is incentivize the NGBs to be a part of the new complex," Millman said.

When the NGBs move out and their aging office buildings are demolished, 158 new housing units will be built for athlete housing. Many of those units will be for athletes with families.

Wrestler Patricia Miranda said that would entice more athletes to train in Colorado Springs.

"On the margin there might be some that can't afford the area and don't want to move without their spouse," Miranda said.

Pentathlete Eli Bremer said he has seen other athletes move onto their post-athletic careers earlier than they wanted for family reasons. The new housing could ease that financial burden for some.

"Hopefully the new family housing will allow more of our top athletes to continue to train for longer, thus increasing retention of our top athletes," Bremer said in an e-mail.

Former Olympic wrestler Jason Gleasman, who works in real estate in Colorado Springs, made an impassioned speech about the USOC staying during a City Council meeting Monday afternoon.

Afterward, he said the biggest impact on the athletes will be for families who can now get housing at the Olympic Training Center.

"I don't think those people are allowed to train at their fullest capacity," Gleasman said. "They make huge sacrifices to be an athlete already, but you can't leave your family."

USOC chief executive Jim Scherr said a "significant" number of athletes have been turned away after requesting housing as the number of athletes has outgrown the available space. Scherr said the additional housing will provide room for more Olympic hopefuls, Paralympians and international athletes.

Scherr said the space vacated by the USOC and some NGBs will allow for future athletic facility development at the OTC.

"We're looking to maximize this training center," Scherr said.