GOVERNING BODIES

Athletes, USOC Launch Humanitarian Fund

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes have partnered to create the Team for Tomorrow Fund to provide humanitarian aid for people around the world. Assistance through the fund could include financial donations, volunteerism, disaster recovery support, advocacy and other contributions to communities.

The Team for Tomorrow Fund includes a select group of athletes serving as athlete ambassadors to educate teammates and spread awareness of the cause.

In its first initiative, the fund—through a USOC donation—provided 1,000 relief tents to survivors of the recent earthquake in China’s Sichuan Province. After the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, athletes will provide assistance in the United States by donating their time to Habitat for Humanity. Other efforts and activities will follow.

USBC Developing New Timing Measurement

GREENDALE, Wis.—The U.S. Bowling Congress (USBC) is developing a more modern and flexible system of measuring timing for bowlers. “Timing” is the relationship between the bowling ball’s location during the swing and the bowler’s steps during approach and delivery.

The new method will more precisely measure and classify the positions of the bowling ball relative to the bowler’s footsteps so that the terminology is more accurate and in line with contemporary bowling styles. The current timing categories are early, late and perfect; the new categories will include leverage timing and roller timing to indicate the locations of the ball and feet in a series of zones during the swing. The new terms also emphasize that correct timing could vary among bowlers.

The new measurement formula will be incorporated into USBC coaching certification courses.

Board Approves Changes To USOC Bylaws

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The board of directors for the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) recently adopted a series of revisions to the USOC Bylaws. The changes include creating a non-voting, non-board member position for the Immediate Past Chairperson to serve as honorary president for a two-year term; renaming the international vice president’s position to first vice president, international, and establishing the position as a required member of the board of directors (with the possibility of serving as a non-voting officer for up to two years after the term); allowing for U.S. members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to be considered for chairperson of the USOC board of directors; providing the privilege of confidentiality to the USOC Athlete Ombudsman to avoid being compelled to testify or provide evidence in a court of law; and further defining U.S. Games Trials to include events at which participating athletes could earn an automatic nomination to Olympic, Paralympic or Pan American Games Teams.

The approved bylaws changes are posted on the USOC website at www.teamusa.org.

U.S. Sailing Promotes New Learning Clinics

PORTSMOUTH, R.I.—U.S. Sailing will hold a series of “Road to Rolex” clinics to teach keelboat racing to women and prepare them for competing in U.S. Sailing’s Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship, scheduled for Oct. 14-17, 2009, at Houston Yacht Club in La Porte, Texas. The first “Road to Rolex” clinic will be Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at the Dallas Yacht Club in Oak Point, Texas.