[2] Naber Warns Panel: Olympic Reforms Meaningless if not Enacted.

WASHINGTON----(BW SportsWire)--Dec. 15, 1999--

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will "sink" if it does not enact the reforms it recently approved, but also needs to go further, John Naber, a four time Olympic gold medal winning swimmer and television sports announcer testified before the House Commerce Oversight and Investigations Sub-Committee, today.

In testimony Naber applauded the IOC for accepting the many suggestions put forth by the IOC 2000 Reform Commission in response to the Salt Lake City "votes-for-bribes scandal," but he warned that if the reforms did not result in significant change, the whole movement would be in jeopardy. At the same time, Naber encouraged US lawmakers to give the reforms time to work, but to remain watchful in the future. Naber said that the recent changes were "a remarkable testament to the disinfectant power of sunlight."

Preceded by the former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, and Senator Howard Baker, who also testified, Naber outlined his concerns about the IOC. "The leaders need to feel accountable to someone other than themselves," he said. "Not just in word, but deed."

The IOC recently elected 10 Olympians to their membership, but Naber said members of the IOC could still prevent any real change in leadership or policy making by keeping the power in the hands of the same elite.

"The requirement that athletes may only serve up to eight years after their most recent Olympics is a de-facto term limit, but no term limits exist for other members of the IOC, and even those that are elected by their peers are not guaranteed seats at the table," said Naber.

Regarding another of the reforms, Naber cautioned that creating an Ethics Commission without giving it absolute power is like "throwing a man 20 feet from shore a 15 foot rope, proclaiming, "we've met him more than half way."

"The Olympic leadership is entitled to my optimistic support, and shall have it." Naber then quoted another American hero, Ronald Reagan, saying, "Trust but verify."

John Naber is a member of OATH (Olympic Advocates Together Honorably), president of the US Olympic Alumni, vice chairman of CHARACTER COUNTS! Sports, and author of the book, "Awaken the Olympian Within: Stories from America's Greatest Olympic Motivators."