Just weeks following the US Olympic Committee’s announcement that the City of Boston will bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, USOC President Scott Blackmun will speak openly with Rick Horrow on the premiere episode of Beyond the Medals – The Business of Sport airing this Wednesday 21 January 2015 at 19:30 ET.
During the one-hour pre-taped show, Blackmun will talk in-depth about the Olympic host city bid process including the USOC’s proactive efforts to identify 2024 candidates, selection criteria and negotiations with the IOC that cleared the way for a welcome US bid.
Blackmun also opens up about his first five years at the organization’s helm as well as the challenges and opportunities the USOC faces over the next 18 months going into the 2016 Rio Games.
Blackmun became Chief Executive Officer of the United States Olympic Committee in January 2010. Under Blackmun’s direction, the USOC supported Team USA in topping the gold and overall medal counts at the London 2012 Olympic Games, nearly doubled net philanthropic support in 2009-12 from the previous quad and developed its first joint sales effort with NBC.
Blackmun also led the organization in negotiating a revenue-sharing agreement with the IOC, which helped to elevate the USOC’s international standing. In 2012, the USOC was named Sports League of the Year and Blackmun was named Sports Executive of the Year by SportsBusiness Journal.
Joining Blackmun as guests on Wednesday’s episode are Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller on the importance of investing in training and facilities for athletes, and USOC Chief of Sports Performance Alan Ashley on his strategy to match the resources needed in order to maximize medals.
Rick Horrow also goes behind-the-scenes at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and talks to USOC Chief of Organizational Excellence Benita Fitzgerald Mosley about the financial requirements and revenue generating opportunities of its facilities.
Shannon Miller also joins Horrow and journalist Vicki Michaelis for a roundtable discussion on the IOC’s new policies in the ‘Olympic Agenda 2020’ announced this past December.
Beyond the Medals – The Business of Sport takes an in-depth look at the economic, political and social stories affecting the Olympic sports industry on the road to the Rio Olympics. In each episode, sports business expert Rick Horrow will provide comprehensive analysis of a different sports business issue through interviews and features with key industry leaders, governing bodies, athletes and corporate sponsors.
A Universal Sports Original Production, Beyond the Medals – The Business of Sport not only examines the challenges and success stories surrounding Olympic sports, but it also takes a critical look at what these sports must do in order to thrive in today’s competitive market.
Beyond the Medals – The Business of Sport is co-executive produced by Universal Sports Network, Lagardère Unlimited and Horrow Sports Ventures.
Universal Sports Network Broadcast Schedule: Beyond The Medals – The Business of Sport
All Times Eastern -subject to change
Date Time (ET) Episode
Jan. 21 7:30 p.m. Premiere – Episode 1: USOC
Jan. 21 11:30 p.m. Encore Presentation – Episode 1: USOC
Jan. 22 3:30 a.m. Encore Presentation – Episode 1: USOC
Jan. 22 1 p.m. Encore Presentation – Episode 1: USOC
Jan. 25 12:30 a.m. Encore Presentation – Episode 1: USOC
Jan. 25 6 a.m. Encore Presentation – Episode 1: USOC
Jan. 27 1:30 a.m. Encore Presentation – Episode 1: USOC
Feb. 18 7:30 p.m. Premiere – Episode 2: Skiing
Universal Sports, a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, is a premier multi-platform media destination for Olympic-related sports programming in the United States. Offering more than 1,200 hours of original programming each year, Universal Sports has exclusive rights to world and national championship events in a wide array of sports, including swimming, track and field, gymnastics, cycling, skiing, figure skating, rugby and triathlon.
Whether on television, online, or on the go with mobile and tablet applications, Universal Sports offers a four-screen experience to fans of global sports every day of the year.
Lagardère Unlimited, a division of the Lagardère Group, is a world-leading sports and entertainment agency. As part of a network of more than 22,500 employees working across 30 countries worldwide, Lagardère Unlimited draws on its extensive global reach and deep understanding of the industry to develop strategies that connect brands with consumers through access to unique sports and entertainment properties.
By leveraging its depth and breadth of experience, Lagardère Unlimited aims to provide best-in-class counsel to identify and maximize opportunities in the areas of Events, Talent, Stadium & Arena, Consulting, Media and Academies.
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