Speedskating Olympian Mike Plant Named Chef De Mission

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) announced today that Michael (Mike) P. Plant, the Executive Vice President of Business Operations for Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves and a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic speedskating team, has been selected to serve as Chef de Mission of the U.S. Team for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada.

Plant's selection as the team's Chef de Mission marks the first time that a U.S. Winter Olympian has served as U.S. delegation leader at an Olympic Winter Games.  As Chef de Mission, Plant will be the senior representative on behalf of the U.S. delegation with the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other National Olympic Committees.

The appointment of the U.S. Chef de Mission is confirmed by the USOC Board of Directors following a recommendation by the USOC Chief Executive Officer.

"Mike will be an outstanding leader for the U.S. Team at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games," USOC Chair Larry Probst said. "As an Olympian and former Chair of the USOC Athletes' Advisory Council, he knows firsthand the needs and pressures faced by athletes in the Olympic Games environment. He has longstanding relationships within the IOC and VANOC, and he will be able to speak with authority and credibility when handling the many issues that arise during the Games."

Plant, who was a six-time member of U.S. World Championship speedskating teams, has served in a variety of roles in the Olympic Movement. He is currently a member of the USOC Board of Directors, a position he has held since June 2004. He also previously served an eight-year term on the USOC Board of Directors and Executive Committee from 1984-1992. He was U.S. Speedskating's athlete representative on the USOC Athletes' Advisory Council and later was elected to a four-year term as AAC Chair.

"Being appointed U.S. Chef de Mission for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games is a tremendous honor," Plant said. "My roots are in winter sports, and I look forward to working with staff and volunteers from the USOC and the National Governing Bodies to make certain our athletes have the support they need to reach their full potential during the Games.  For many athletes, the opportunity to represent your country in the Olympic Winter Games comes only once, and we want to make certain the experience is as rewarding and successful as possible."

Plant was the Executive Director of USA Canoe/Kayak from 1985 to 1986 and the Associate Executive Director of USA Cycling from 1986 to 1988. He served as President of USA Cycling from 1995 to 2002.

Plant also served as President of the Goodwill Games and Executive Vice President of Turner Sports, where he was responsible for the overall direction and management of the Goodwill Games, as well as all sports properties acquired by Turner Sports.  He was a member of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees for the Salt Lake Olympic Bid Committee for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Plant resides in Peachtree City, Ga., with his wife Mary, an Olympic swimming champion, and their children, Erika, Maddie and Drew.

Tags: Chef de Mission, Mike Plant, USOC, Vancouver 2010