The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has reportedly narrowed the field of potential Chief Executives to 6 candidates. The unconfirmed candidates are:

– TD Ameritrade chairman Joe Moglia
– Former baseball executive Sandy Alderson
– Current chief operating officer Norm Bellingham
– Former general counsel and interim CEO of the USOC, Scott Blackmun
– Jet Set Sports president Mark Lewis
– USA Swimming CEO Chuck Wielgus

The candidate with the big Handball connection is Mark Lewis, who’s married to former USA Olympian, National Team Coach and NBC Olympics commentator, Dawn Allinger Lewis. Obviously, the selection of Lewis would result in a CEO very, very much in tune with the trials and tribulations of USA Team Handball. According to a report in the Seattle Times, Lewis is a very strong marketer, bringing in record sponsorship for the Salt Lake City Olympics and later growing Jet Set Sport’s corporate hospitality business. The same article, however, implies that Lewis has also benefitted substantially from the revolving door that is part of what the expose calls the less than transparent “Olympic Family.”

The USOC hopes to select the new CEO in January just prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

LA Times Olympics Blog (11 Dec 09): U.S. swim boss, ex-Padres CEO among finalists for U.S. Olympic Committee CEO: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/
AP (14 Dec 09): Ameritrade chairman USOC CEO finalist: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jD8XlqyUijfWqsZWC8jupreOTmwQD9CJE7VG0
Seattle Times Olympics Insider (11 Dec 09): Report: Jet Set president Lewis a finalist for top USOC job: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/ronjuddsolympicsinsider/2010486875_report_jet_set_president_lewis.html
Seattle Times (17 Nov 09): Olympic business stays in the 'family': http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2010284615_olytickets17.html
Seattle Times Special Report: Freezing out the Fans (4 part report on Olympic ticketing): http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympicticketing/