Ted Stevens Olympic and Paralympic Sports Act-???????
Recommendation # 4 of the Final Report of the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics states:
The terms “amateur” and “amateurism” should finally be retired from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movement, and athletes’ rights—when participating in movement sports— should be enshrined in law
Explanation: For decades, labeling athletes in movement sports as “amateurs” has served only to infringe on their rights, limit their eligibility to compete, and deny recognition that they train with the same dedication and time commitment as professional athletes. It also no longer accurately describes the athletes who make up Team USA. It is time for the movement to retire that term from use. Congress can help by striking the term from the statute, including by renaming the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act as the Ted Stevens Olympic and Paralympic Sports Act. Meanwhile, USOPC, governing bodies, and stakeholders across the movement should participate in a culture change by refraining from using the term “amateur” across all communication. (See page 15.)
We highly recommend that Congress rename it the “Ted Stevens Olympic Sports Act.”
Please read my previous newsletter issue, “Back To 'United States Olympic Committee', “ dated October 26, 2023.
One paragraph from this 10/26/23 issue reads:
Among 206 National Olympic Committees (NOC), the USOPC is one of ONLY TWO joint National Olympic and Paralympic committees worldwide to manage both Olympic and Paralympic sport nationally. The other is the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports. Do your math. These two are 0.97% of all NOCs.
THEREFORE, we encourage you to tell Congress that you are supporting the new name of the Ted Stevens Sports Act.
