The NCAA News - News & Features

USOC steps toward pilot grant program

BY STEPHEN R. HAGWELL
Staff Writer

If good things do in fact come to those who wait, conferences and institutions waiting on confirmation of United States Olympic Committee funding for certain sports soon should reap a number of benefits.

For now, however, they must continue to wait.

On October 26 in Indianapolis, the USOC board of directors, which includes representatives from Olympic sports' national governing bodies (NGBs), approved a decision to fund a pilot grant program intended to bolster emerging sports and Olympic sports threatened with elimination at universities and colleges.

However, the program still must be approved by the USOC's national governing bodies. They will meet in February 1997.

"The NGBs want more discussion on the program," said Jim Page, USOC deputy executive director for programs. "They didn't feel comfortable with making a decision at this time. They want to take some time between now and December to review the program more closely."

Modeled after the conference-grant plan proposed by the USOC/NCAA Task Force -- a cooperative effort to strengthen the relationship between the USOC and the Association -- the pilot program would award grants to conferences interested in sponsoring and supporting emerging sports and preserving endangered Olympic sports, such as men's gymnastics, water polo and wrestling. The program would be administered by the USOC.

The board of directors' decision came three weeks after the USOC Executive Committee, at its October 5 meeting in Chicago, approved as part of its budget for the upcoming quadrennium funding of $2 million per year over a four-year timetable for the pilot program.

The allocation of funds is a response to a task force request for funding of a two-part plan to bolster emerging sports and Olympic sports threatened with elimination. In February 1996, the task force requested the USOC to provide funding of $10 to 12 million per year over a five-year timetable for the initiatives.

"The good news is that we have money in the budget," said Page. "Every time this program has been discussed, people said it sounded like a good idea but wondered where the money was going to come from. That is no longer a concern. We have that piece in place."

As for decision to delay action, Page says those with an interest in the matter should not get discouraged. He said the USOC is excited about the initiatives and committed to their implementation.

Page adds that the USOC is ready to distribute information about the program once the plan is approved. He said that guidelines on how to apply for grants are being developed and that conferences and national governing bodies will receive the information immediately after approval is granted.

"This is a very important initiative. We want to make sure we have everything in place," said Page. "We believe this program is going to provide great benefits. We're excited about the future."