USATF chief executive calls for bonus system

USA Track and Field (USATF) chief executive Doug Logan called for an athletes' bonus system and a reshaping of Olympic preparations after last year's disappointing performances in Beijing.

"No honest observer of our practices and procedures would ever conclude that the results of the competition at the 2008 Games were a blip or an aberration," Logan said in response to a task force report last month which was highly critical of US preparation and performances in Beijing.

The United States topped the medals chart with 23 medallists. But it won only seven golds compared to 14 at the 2005 and 2007 world championships and both the men's and women's 4x100 metres relay teams dropped the baton.

Logan said the national governing body had to modernise its operations if it wanted to achieve its goal of 30 medals at the 2012 London Games.

He said a managing director of competitions to oversee preparations for global events, including the Olympics, should be hired by June 1.

Athletes representing the United States should be required to sign contracts agreeing to consult with the managing director about their pre-Olympic or world champion competitions.

Logan also called for bonuses of $15,000 for athletes setting personal bests at the Games and $5,000 for season's bests.

He said the US Olympic trials' current 10-day format should be shortened.