The Olympic Sports Liaison Committee (OSLC) discussed the recently released final report of the NCAA/USOC Task Force at the committee's October 23-25 meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Committee members hope to propose NCAA legislation based on the recommendations within the next year.

The task force was formed as a joint effort between the NCAA and the USOC to address the decline in sponsorship of certain Olympic sports at the NCAA level. The charge was to develop ways for the NCAA and the USOC to protect and expand the opportunities for American student-athletes and coaches, and to realize the benefits associated with participation in collegiate athletics programs and sports traditionally included in the program for the Olympic games.

The group, chaired by Indianapolis attorney Jack Swarbrick, issued its final report in September. It included such recommendations as identifying best practices for responding to a threatened elimination of a program and the creation of a charitable foundation -- sponsored by the NCAA, USOC and others yet to be identified -- that would promote college sponsorship of Olympic sports. The committee supported the recommendations and believes the report will help foster a move in the right direction.

OSLC members focused on two aspects of the report. First, the group discussed who should endorse the value statement put forth in the report. The task force recommended widespread adoption of the following value statement for maintaining broad-based programming in the United States:

"(Organization name) believes that participation in intercollegiate athletics represents a uniquely valuable educational experience for student-athletes and enriches the quality of campus life generally. As such, there is great benefit, consistent with the academic mission of American colleges and universities, in ensuring that diverse athletics opportunities are available to students, especially in those sports that connect to the Olympic ideals, inspire young people and attribute to a lifelong commitment to fitness. We are committed to doing all we reasonably can to help ensure that those diverse athletics opportunities continue to exist as part of intercollegiate athletics in America."

The committee discussed the importance of widespread endorsement throughout the NCAA community and will work within the governance structure to aid the process.

The report challenges both the NCAA and the USOC to implement recommendations developed by the task force and to continue to examine ways within each organization to enhance the endangered and emerging sports.

One of the recommendations specifically asks the NCAA membership to consider legislative changes to further that goal. The committee concentrated on possible legislative proposals that could be introduced into the legislative cycle at some point in the future that would help align rules to support the group's mission.

Specific areas for legislative change may include:

• Modifying sport-sponsorship rules to include a modest reward for sponsoring Olympic sports.

• Reducing restrictions on training time for athletes who have achieved an identified high standard of academic performance.

• Expanding circumstances under which athletes not currently enrolled in a college or university may practice and/or use university facilities with student-athletes and college coaches.

• Further relaxation of amateurism rules.

• Athletics scholarships underwritten by third parties including, but not limited to, the USOC or the national governing bodies.

Committee members will survey the membership and elite Olympic athletes about possible recommendations before suggesting specific legislative proposals.

OSLC members also met with representatives from national governing bodies of several Olympic sports, including the U.S. Bowling Congress, USA Shooting, USA Field Hockey, USA Archery, USA Volleyball, USA Basketball, USA Team Handball, USA Wrestling and USA Water Polo.

The committee also plans to conduct future meetings in conjunction with the newly established USOC Assembly, which should provide for greater interaction between the OSLC and national governing bodies.

In other action, the committee discussed the need for tracking NCAA athletes who participate in the Olympic games. Thus, for the first time, the committee will seek information from NCAA institutions on all NCAA athletes who participate in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. The committee will send a letter to all member institutions requesting information about that institution's Olympic athletes, those competing both for the U.S. and other nations. The information will be compiled and may be used to recognize each of the Olympic athletes who also are NCAA student-athletes.

The group also reviewed a frequently-asked-questions document that provides information about NCAA legislation regarding student-athlete participation in the Olympic Games and other elite events. Topics covered in the document include educational expenses and financial aid, promotional activities, awards and benefits, eligibility, and outside competition.

Students involved in the Olympics and other competitions outside the purview of the NCAA often are confused by rules about training and participation, and officials hope the FAQ document can provide a resource to answer some of those questions.