Come On, USOPC CEO-!
Open Letter to USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland
Sarah,
I have not forgotten what you emailed me the following on April 13, 2023:
“While I am a huge advocate for adaptive sport, my focus is on the Paralympics and advancing the US Paralympic Movement. I’m encouraged that the Commission is hearing from the USADSF. I know they are well aware of the fragmentation and resource challenges that plague sport in our country and I’m hopeful they might find some ideas to help.”
On March 1, the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics (CSUSOP) released the 277-page Final Report to Congress.
One CSUSOP recommendation is focused on the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) in dealing with Deaflympians.
CSUSOP RECOMMENDATION: “USOPC should work with the U.S.A. Deaf Sports Federation to remove impediments to its full use of Deaflympic trademarks and access to sponsorships.
On page 51, the Report explains:
One of the challenges stemming from the status of U.S. Deaflympics not being addressed by the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act is the U.S.A. Deaf Sports Federation’s inhibited ability to seek sponsorship funding or raise revenues using the “Deaflympics” trademark. Though the IOC has granted this trademark to the Deaflympics on an international basis, this is not the case in the United States. As a result, the development of deaf sports at all levels across the country has been hampered through a lack of sufficient funding.
Historically, in 2001, the International Olympic Committee granted the International Committee of the Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) the right to change the name of the World Games for the Deaf to Deaflympics. But, with this new name, ICSD has to abide by IOC regulations that say ICSD cannot use the following:
The term- "Games" is in connection with the Events.
The mark of DEAFLYMPICS to identify the ICSD.
The mark of DEAFLYMPICS on ICSD letterhead or any other printed materials.
And that all members of ICSD shall abide by those aforementioned restrictions.
Since then, the USO[P]C has not recognized the “Deaflympics.”
At the CSUSOP public hearing on September 6, C-SPAN viewed you while you listened to USADSF President Jeffey Mansfield testifying before the CSUSOP Commissioners:
“Neither the Amateur Sports Act nor the U.S. Copyright Office recognized the term “Deaflympics” as the ICSD’s intellectual property, even though the IOC has granted ICSD the right to use this term. This creates a double injustice, in which the USOPC provides zero funding to the U.S. Deaflympic program, and we are precluded from pursuing a wide swath of sponsor funding,” said USADSF President Mansfield.
It was not the first time because the first similar plea was made 46 years ago - in 1978.
On March 29, 1978, Col. F. Don Miller, then USOC Executive Director, wrote to Richard “Dick” Caswell, then Secretary-Treasurer of the AAAD (now USADSF), "If the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, S. 2727, is enacted, and a coordinated program of amateur sports is provided for the handicapped, and coordinated by the USOC, I would be prepared to recommend the use of Olympic terminology is association with your activities."
Sarah, but since then, the USOPC has still ducked the legendary USOPC figure's recommendation.
The Sports Business Journal states, “While several recommendations are ones the USOPC can enact on its own, many require congressional action.”
Therefore, you or your USOPC staff could work with the USADSF immediately to complete the trademark approval.
As an old Capitol Hill dog, I believe this process could be a “Mickey Mouse” way, so any intern in your legal department could do it for you.
The purpose of this letter is to tell you that, without the Deaflympic trademark, the USADSF might have more difficulty meeting the deadline to pay a 10% deposit of each Deaflympian’s expense to an organizing committee of the 2025 Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan by this October.
You may recall that President Mansfield concluded his statement at the hearing by saying, “As Deaflympians, we are proud to wear the letters “U.S.A.” across our chests, and today, we are calling on our country to have our backs. Nothing about us without us.”
Hundreds of frustrated USA Deaflympians, past and present, have urged your USOPC to act quickly for the sake of the future Deaflympians-!
Here is the official Deaflympics Logo:
Sincerely,
Howard Lee Gorrell (USOC At-Large Member of the USOC Handicapped in Sports Committee - 1979-81)
Howard “Howie” Gorrell attended 13 of the last 14 Deaflympics since 1969 and is a 2004 recipient of the USADSF Jerald M. Jordan Award, given to those who exhibit leadership and continuous participation toward the goals of the Deaflympics and the 2011 Art Kruger Award for demonstrating leadership and constant participation, support and contribution in the USADSF over an extended period.