USAT AAC

Hello elite athletes,
As you may have heard, a topic up for discussion at the upcoming
March 18th board meeting is an initiative to separate USAT from the
USOC and the Olympic movement (see resolution below). This would
mean an end to all funding and support (USAT staff, sport science, etc.) for all elites. In addition, it would end our relationship with
the ITU, meaning USAT would no longer send amateurs or elites to
world championships. And, USAT would no longer be involved in the
Olympics.

While the possibility of this passing is very unlikely, the
resolution needs to be taken seriously, as it demonstrates a thread
of anti-pro attitudes out there today. Your elite board of directors
representatives are asking for your support as we embark on making
the best choices for USAT and all professional triathletes.

We need to work everyday to improve our image amongst the 90% of
amateurs and race directors who respect and support us. Therefore,
would like your help in spreading the word to nullify this
sentiment. It's an important time for elites to work together and
stand together. If you're interested in possibly working with us to
help with this situation, please contact Alison DeWall
(AlisonAAC@yahoo.com).

Thanks,
Alison DeWall, Gina Kehr, Kevin Carter and Eric Bean

RESOLUTION:

Subject: USAT is a membership driven organization that was conceived
and organized by concerned Race Directors over a quarter century
ago. The premise was to organize and sanction events for safety and
consistency, thus encouraging athletes to attend their events and
grow the sport. In 2004 there were over 1400 events, 54,000 annual
members and 5 plus million-dollar budget. Of those 54,000 less than
300 are professional/elite athletes and less than half that number
compete in Olympic style/ITU draft legal events.
The budget is less the $750,000.

Background: Around 1980 a number of then-prominent Race Directors
conceived and formed an organization called Triathlon USA. The
concept was to organize races and set a standard of safety and
performance that would attract competitors and establish a standard
of performance. By creating the federation they were able to
purchase event insurance at a fairly low rate thus making sanction
affordable and desirable. Over time USA Triathlon changed its name
to Tri-Fed USA and then to USA Triathlon. Beginning in 1990
USAT established its first of 10 Regional Federations. In the late
1990's Triathlon was nominated to be an Olympic Sport in the 2000
Olympics. This was a result of the work by the ITU beginning in 1989
that created "artificial" events that included draft-legal bike
racing. These events were limited to "Pro/elite" competitors and not
open to age group racing. Most age groupers looked upon "draft-
legal" racing negatively. With the establishment of Triathlon as an
Olympic Sport and USAT as the National Governing Body (NGB), the
USOC began allocating increased funding solely for the maintance and
implementation of the elites engaged in ITU and World Cup racing.
The purpose: win medals at the Olympics. However since 1999 USAT Age
Group membership monies have been used to supplement this elite
program with absolutely no tangible benefit being obtained by Age
Groupers. The average shortfall each year through 2004 has been
$330,000 annually. In addition all the VIK and cash sponsorship
developed for the elites goes to the elites, sometimes to the
detriment of age group sponsorship, whereas VIK for age group
programs have been available to the "pro/elites" at USAT sanctioned
events. In 2004, the USOC was asked to adjudicate the election
results held in the fall of 2003 based on lawsuit filed by several
members of the Federation. During this same period several other
USAT members wrote and circulated a petition to overhaul the present
By-Laws. It passed in the spring of 2004. The USOC has now taken a
very direct and active hand in the management and operation of USAT.
From their perspective, as viewed by the USAT Board on several
occasions, they have stated in direct communications
with the Board they have no interest in the desires or wishes of the
nearly 54,000 annual age group members. Their only concern is the
welfare of the "Pro/Elites" and the programs and services that will
help them obtain gold at the Olympics and on the international
scene. Further, the USOC believes the inclusion of Race Directors on
the Board is a conflict of interest.
Considering that USAT was founded by race directors, for race
directors, clearly indicates the USOC's lack of understanding or
sensitivity to the unique circumstances that have helped make USAT
the thriving Federation it is today.

Therefore it leaves us as a Federation to separate ourselves from
the USOC and the Olympic program, a program that does NOT reflect
the initial goals of this Federation and of those goals now, which
is the servicing of it's 54,000 plus age group membership. The USOC
needs to develop and maintain its own "specialty" NGB to monitor and
manage the Olympic Triathlon Program as they envision it, and we as
a Federation devote our full resources to promoting and servicing
our age group athletes and Race Director Clientele.

Pertinent By-Laws & Regulations: USAT By-Laws, Articles II, III and
IV,
Section 2, Article V, section O.

Financial Impact: In real funding net gain of $330,000. Cost of
subsidizing
Olympic Program.

Whereas USAT was initially conceived by and for Race Directors to
promote and grow the sport of triathlon in the United States; and

Whereas the overwhelming membership consists of age group competitors
(54,000); and

Whereas USAT has grown to over 1400 age group events and 54,000
members of which less then 300 are "Pro/Elite"; and

Whereas USAT age group funding has been subsidizing the "Olympic"
program for at least 5 years at the tune of $330,000 annually with
no tangible benefit and indirectly impacting negatively on many Age
Group programs; and

Whereas USAT now has a budget in excess of 5 million dollars and
receives less then $750,000 to maintain the elite program,

Now therefore be it resolved that USAT terminate its relationship
with the USOC and the Olympic Program, that USAT will no longer be
the NGB for the sport of Olympic Triathlon, that USAT will devote
its full resources to its principle members, age group athletes and
Race Directors, that USAT will henceforth conduct all of its
business separate and distinct from USOC including all of its owned
sponsorship both cash and VIK. That USAT will operate as a single
independent entity, responsible only to its own self-interests and
that of its membership.

Submitted by Jack Weiss, Tr

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posted by andy  # 3:50 PM