Ueberroth: USOC must be worldly

Peter Ueberroth wants the U.S. Olympic Committee to go global.

The former USOC chairman thinks the Colorado Springs-based organization needs a stronger international presence and improved relations with world leaders, not just to bolster Chicago's chances for the 2016 Olympics.

"This organization became so self-intent and self-concerned over a number of years," said Ueberroth, replaced by Larry Probst in October. "We forgot that the rest of the world was going on, and we didn't really participate. ... The Olympic movement has changed."

Two USOC board members - Anita DeFrantz and Jim Easton - serve on the 111-person International Olympic Committee, which will select the 2016 host Oct. 2, 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The USOC hasn't been represented on the 15-member IOC executive board since Easton lost in a 2006 re-election attempt. DeFrantz finished last in a 2007 election, won by incumbent Gerhard Heiberg of Norway.

Ueberroth said the USOC "can go anywhere. ... We can go to Iran. We can go to Cuba. We can go, whereas the rest of the citizens of the United States can't always get to those places. We can do things that make the United States bridge relationships."

"We need to become an international organization in every sport, so our athletes will do better and they'll be accepted more around the world," Ueberroth added. "It's not just USA, USA, USA."

Springs cyclists win gold
Colorado Springs resident Katie Compton (women's elite) and Colorado College student Colin Cares (men's Division II) won titles Dec. 14 at the Cyclo-cross National Championships in Kansas City, Mo. Compton finished fourth in the USA Cycling cyclo-cross series.

Broadmoor skaters shine
Broadmoor Skating Club member Jeremy Abbott was named the USA Today Olympic Athlete of the Week after winning the Grand Prix Final last weekend in Goyang, South Korea. Broadmoor member Alexe Gilles claimed a bronze medal at the Junior Grand Prix Final in Goyang.

Award for local runner
Colorado Springs runner Christel Donley is a USA Track & Field Masters Athlete of the Year for the 70-to-74 age group. Donley was honored Dec. 6 at the national governing body's annual meeting in Reno, Nev.

Familiar face on board
Former USOC president Marty Mankamyer was voted this month to a four-year term on the USA Taekwondo board of directors. It's her second board term.