Olympic Games: US Olympic boss Blackmun steps down

Scott Blackmun has announced his resignation as Managing Director of the US Olympic Committee USOC. The organisation announced on Wednesday that the 60-year-old’s state of health was the reason for the decision. Blackmun has prostate cancer.

“In view of Scott’s current health situation, we agree that it is in his and the USOC’s interest to take care of a new leadership role,”USOC Chairman Larry Probst said.

During his eight-year tenure, Blackmun improved USOC’s relationship with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was instrumental in ensuring that the 2028 Summer Games will take place in Los Angeles.

In the past few months, however, there has been criticism of Blackmun’s reluctance in the course of the abuse scandal surrounding the former physician Larry Nassar.

He is said to have sexually abused at least 265 girls and women during his time as a doctor of the US gymnasts for nearly three decades. Nassar received a prison sentence of up to 175 years for this.