When accepting her award for Sports Executive of the Year at last night’s Sports Business Awards in N.Y., USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland continued looking ahead, telling the crowd at the Marriott Marquis Times Square that while the organization “had a hell of a year last year,” they’re “just getting warmed up.” Hirshland pointed to the next decade as key, with not only the Milan Cortina Games less than a year away but also with two domestic Games set for L.A. (2028) and Salt Lake City (2034).
“We’ve got a decade in front of us that’s gonna be amazing, not just what’s coming in Milan Cortina,” Hirshland said. “LA28 will be remarkable for sport in this country.”
Hirshland then took some time to honor the other executives in the crowd, saying that their collective work is what helps make the U.S. such a strong sporting nation.
“This room represents the top of the pyramid of sport,” Hirshland said. “I spend a lot of my time in the international community, and I will tell you, we are the envy of the world. We are the greatest sporting nation in the world. This is the top of the pyramid.”
But then Hirshland turned her attention back to the matter at hand — remaining on an upward trajectory over the next decade and the unique opportunity in front of the U.S. sports industry.
“Hey guys, let’s not f**k this up,” she said.
