Gary Hall: World Fit moving forward

Gary Hall Sr.
Olympian, Swimming 1968, 1972 and 1976

Last weekend the USOC hosted the Olympic Assembly, a gathering of the entire family of partner organizations behind the Olympic movement in the United States. I have attended the Assembly before, but this time it was different. Never before can I recall that there has been the sense of unity and inclusion among all of these organizations. Never before can I recall sensing such hope and optimism for the future of the Olympic movement. Never before has the USOC shown the transparency and kind of leadership it is now displaying.

Behind all of this positive change is the new CEO of the USOC, Scott Blackmun. I met him for the first time last week. He and his wife, Ann, invited many Olympians over to his house on Saturday, after the Assembly had ended. Scott had also attended the meeting of the United States Olympians the day before, along with USOC Chairman Larry Probst, where, for the first time, rather than giving a ‘state of the union address’, he actually listened. It was refreshing. His answers to our questions gave the impression of someone who genuinely cares about the Olympians; not just the ones still winning medals, but all Olympians.

Scott appreciates just how valuable the Olympians are to the USOC and its objectives. He readily admits it and is taking steps to bring the Olympians closer to the Olympic movement in America. While only at the helm for less than a year, Scott has come to understand what each member of the large USOC family wants and needs, while still managing to stay very focused on the core mission of the USOC and reaching its objectives.

While one could hardly criticize the past leaders of the USOC if judging by our success on the Olympic playing field, we have not been quite so successful in other areas. Disputes over television revenue and other reasons had led to a deterioration in our international Olympic relationships, culminating in an embarrassing first round elimination of our Chicago Olympic bid last fall. Scott Blackmun and Larry Probst have both taken on the assignment of improving those relationships and appear well on their way toward doing that.

Winning Olympic medals is important to every country in the Games, but there is more to it than that. The Olympics and its Olympians and Paralympians, and all the member organizations behind the Olympic movement, need to do more than just produce great athletes. We need to take on more social responsibility. Why? That is what the founder of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin, wanted and described in his vision for the Games and because we can make a difference. World Fit was well received … actually embraced by all of the members at the Assembly. It fits with the current desire of our Olympic leaders to do more than win medals. It fits with the current and significant need of our society. In an unprecedented move, the USOC will allow World Fit to display the Olympic Rings. We shall do so proudly. For the first time, World Fit is to become part of the Olympic family. Now it is time to go to work!