US Olympic Committee to shut down USA Gymnastics

[nitpicker]

https://www.dw.com/en/us-olympic-committee-to-shut-down-usa-gymnastics/a-46167002

US Olympic Committee to shut down USA Gymnastics

Date 06.11.2018

The US Olympic Committee (USOC) has begun the process of disbanding USA Gymnastics, the organization that currently governs the sport nationwide. The USOC accused USA Gymnastics of failing to handle the aftermath of the sexual abuse scandal involving former team doctor Larry Nassar. The move comes just days after the US gymnastics team won nine medals at the World Championships, the team's first major competition ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

Though USOC holds the power to determine which organizations can represent each sport at the Olympics, the process of decertifying an organization is usually only used under the most extreme circumstances.

In a letter to the gymnastics community, USOC CEO Sarah Hirshland said to athletes "you deserve better," and conceded that USA Gymnastics is not able to overcome the challenges it is currently facing.

"Seeking to revoke recognition is not a decision that we have come to easily, but I believe it is the right action," Hirshland said. "In the short-term, we will work to ensure that America's gymnasts have the support necessary to excel on and off the field of play. We are building plans to do just that no matter the outcome of the revocation process," she said.

The USOC decision sends a strong signal against abuse, but also leaves a void that cannot easily be filled. There is currently no organization that can readily substitute for USA Gymnastics and its activities, which include supporting elite and Olympic athletes, selecting teams and coaches for international competitions and generally serving more than 150,000 athletes in 3,000 clubs around the country.
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[PJMcK]

1. This is a huge development

The first and most obvious result of this action by the U.S.O.C. will be greater protections for the athletes, especially the young women and girls.

There are deeper ramifications, however, that are not so obvious. The U.S.A.G. certifies gyms and coaches throughout the country. If they are decertified, all of those people and organizations will have logistical nightmares since there won't be any oversight of this very big business. For example, my fiancee is a coach for an elite gym company that has several gyms in New York City. Without their certification, those gyms will have difficulty getting liability insurance, hiring staff and attracting athletes. The coaches will lose their certifications which could adversely affect their employment. Additionally, the athletes could lose many opportunities and competitions.

Hopefully, the U.S.O.C. will handle this process wisely. Unfortunately, their history doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.