INDIANAPOLIS---The National Collegiate Athletic Association and the United States Olympic Committee today announced the formation of the Joint NCAA/USOC Task Force to review the decline of Olympic sports sponsorship on the collegiate level. The joint venture seeks to explore ways to positively effect change by offering recommendations and solutions to curb the Olympic sports sponsorship regression.

In recent years, the elimination of sports programs by NCAA member institutions has disproportionately affected Olympic sports, prompting serious challenges for some national governing bodies dependent upon collegiate programs as a key source for future and current Olympic-caliber athletes. In addition, the sports decline has resulted in lost participation opportunities for NCAA student-athletes. Informal discussions on the future problems facing both organizations led to the creation of the task force, which is scheduled to operate for 18 months.

"This task force is an important step in stemming the decline of Olympic sports programs on NCAA campuses," said NCAA President Myles Brand. "Obviously, colleges and universities are faced with significant economic issues with regard to athletics programs, but the benefits these student- athletes bring to campuses and the benefits many ultimately share with the nation on the Olympic stage should not be minimized when institutions make budgetary decisions."

"America's colleges and universities play a vital role in the development of athletes and coaches who ultimately move on to represent our country in international competition," said Jim Scherr, USOC Chief Executive. "The USOC and our National Governing Bodies are proud to partner with the NCAA and its member institutions in examining issues and developing solutions that will help preserve opportunities for Olympic sport at the collegiate level."

The task force includes 16 individuals with a wealth of knowledge of both collegiate and Olympic sports. Each organization has selected the members to serve on its behalf. Though the date of the first meeting has not yet been finalized, the group is expected to meet no less than four times in person over the 18-month period.

The group is chaired by Jack Swarbrick, a partner in the Indianapolis law firm Baker and Daniels. Swarbrick is the former chairman and a current board member of the Indiana Sports Corporation. Through the years, Swarbrick has also served as general counsel for several national governing bodies.

"The importance of this topic to both the NCAA and the USOC is reflected in the quality of the appointments each organization has made to this committee. This is a committee of extraordinary talents and diverse perspectives, and I am honored to have been asked to facilitate its work. I am certain that the committee will be able to produce creative and substantive recommendations that will reverse the trend in the decline of Olympic sports sponsorship by this country's colleges and universities

Other members of the task force include:

NAME TITLE/INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION USOC Nominated Richard Bender Executive Director, USA Wrestling Herman Frazier Director of Athletics, University of Hawaii Ron Galimore Senior Director of Men's Programs, USA Gymnastics Courtney Johnson Attorney, 2000 Olympian in Water Polo and USOC Athletes Advisory Council Member William Martin Director of Athletics, University of Michigan and Acting President of the USOC Andrew Valmon Head Track and Field Coach, University of Maryland and USOC Athletes Advisory Council Member Jon Vegosen Vice-Chair of the US Tennis Association Collegiate Committee Chuck Wielgus Executive Director, USA Swimming NCAA Nominated Andy Geiger Director of Athletics, The Ohio State University Ian Gray Vice-Chair, Student Athlete Advisory Committee Larry James Director of Athletics, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Kyle Kallander Commissioner, Big South Conference, Chair, Olympic Sports Liaison Committee Cheryl Levick Director of Athletics, Santa Clara University Peter Likins President, University of Arizona Jean Lenti Ponsetto Director of Athletics, DePaul University 

NCAA colleges and universities have historically been the lifeblood in several sports that compete as part of the Olympic program. Of the members of the United States Olympic teams from 1980 through 2000, approximately 94 percent were in attendance at or had attended NCAA institutions. In terms of facilities and other services, NCAA Division I institutions expend an average of $3 million per year on facilities and non-coaching services for men's and women's teams on the Olympic sports calendar.

The NCAA Olympic Sports Liaison Committee will also serve as a resource to the joint task force, serving as the catalyst to present any recommendations to the NCAA membership.

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