The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Nominating and Governance Committee today launched a nationwide process by which qualified candidates may apply to serve as one of the four independent directors on the new 11-person USOC Board of Directors.

A special web page, created by USOC Official Sponsor Monster.com, provides an online application process that is designed to be as efficient and cost-effective as possible.

Justice Theodore R. Boehm (Indianapolis, Ind.) chairs the four-member Nominating and Governance Committee, which is tasked with selecting the new USOC Board of Directors. Other members of the committee are Julie Foudy (Mission Viejo, Calif.), Samuel L.Guillory, M.D. (New York, N.Y.) and Robert S. Rollo (Los Angeles, Calif.).

Over the next three weeks, from April 12-30, online applications will be accepted at the web page from “persons of the highest personal and professional integrity who have demonstrated exceptional ability and judgment,” and who will be “most effective, in conjunction with other members of the Board, in collectively serving the long term interests of the USOC.” As the online applications are received, a database of independent candidates will be created and available for immediate review by all committee members.

The composition of the new USOC Board of Directors will be as follows:

>> Four independent directors selected by the Nominating and Governance Committee. An individual is considered to be independent if, during the past two years, he or she – plus immediate family – has not held any paid or volunteer governance position within the USOC, its member organizations, or councils, or any Olympic family entity; is not an officer, senior management, controlling shareholder or partner of a corporate entity that does business with the USOC; and is not an officer, employee, director or trustee of a nonprofit organization to which the USOC or U.S. Olympic Foundation makes payment in any year in excess $100,000. (The specific requirements for independence are set forth in the new USOC Constitution and Bylaws, which is available online at www.usolympicteam.com.)

>> Two members selected by the Nominating and Governance Committee from among six individuals nominated by the National Governing Bodies (NGB) Council, whose members are representatives of the NGBs of the Olympic and Pan American sport organizations.

>> Two members selected by the Nominating and Governance Committee from among six individuals nominated by the Athletes Advisory Council (AAC), which is composed of, and elected by, athletes from each NGB.

>> The United States members of the International Olympic Committee, currently three in number, who shall be ex officio directors, serving on the USOC Board by virtue of, and for the same term, as their IOC membership. The Olympic Charter requires that IOC members have a role in the governance of their respective National Olympic Committee.

The new USOC Board of Directors is expected to be selected in early summer, prior to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

"The USOC Board or Directors should have leadership from the sports world, but also needs independent directors with experience in corporate governance, finance, public relations, and the other skills necessary for this large and very important organization,” said Justice Boehm. “The USOC can fulfill its mission only if it has the strong leadership it needs. We hope everyone will consider whether they or someone they know should be nominated."

After reviewing the online applications, the Nominating and Governance Committee will conduct in-person interviews with the finalists. From its inception, the group has adopted a policy of minimizing travel and reducing expenses to the fullest extent possible. The members communicate daily by e-mail and have made substantial progress by meeting telephonically.

Since February 2003, the USOC has undertaken the formidable challenge of streamlining a governance structure consisting of a 125-member Board of Directors, including a 24-member Executive Committee, into a significantly smaller and more efficient leadership system better suited to guiding the U.S. Olympic Movement.

“The Nominating and Governance Committee is to be congratulated for the substantial progress it has made since beginning its work one month ago,” said USOC Acting President Bill Martin. “The members have been most generous in contributing their time and talent in support of this historic governance reform process.”