The Business of Writing - Lundquist College of Business - University ...

“In the United States, we are changing. We are changing the way we employ people, we
are changing the way we educate, and we’re changing the way we raise our families,”
Ueberroth told students. “We have to take advantage of the razor of change.”
When presenting the Olympic Strength sculpture, he additionally lauded the Warsaw
Center for the work it has done with the USOC, for its commitment to advancing the
Olympic spirit by teaming with Fudan University to offer an executive M.B.A. program to
members of the Chinese Olympic Committee, and for the quality of its alumni who have
significantly advanced sports business.
“The Warsaw Sports Marketing Center is a world-class program preparing students to
lead the increasingly global and complex sports business industry,” said Ueberroth. “I’m
excited to make the trip to the University of Oregon where amateur athletic history runs
deep and passion for sport and sports business continues to put it on the map.”
The Olympic Strength sculpture Ueberroth presented to Jim Warsaw is a miniature
replica of the nearly forty-foot statue that greets visitors at the U.S.
Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Other recent recipients of the honor include former President
George H. W. Bush and International Olympic Committee
President Jacques Rogge.
Peter Ueberroth (left) and Rick Burton (right)
discuss the impact of the University of Oregon
and the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center on
the Olympic movement.
James h . WarsaW sPorts m arketI ng Center
Where a re t hey n o W ?
Joining Peter Ueberroth in presenting the
Olympic Strength sculpture was Rick Burton,
former executive director of the Warsaw
Sports Marketing Center. Burton joined
the USOC in October 2007 as its chief
marketing officer.
When Burton stepped down as the first
director of the Warsaw Center in 2003, little
did he know that he would some day return
to help honor the program.
“It’s great to be back at the UO and see the
continued growth of the Warsaw Center,”
he said. “Knowing that there are nearly 200
sports business programs in the U.S. now
following the lead of the UO program, I’m
proud of my association with Jim Warsaw and
a talented faculty and staff, great students,
and alumni who created this category of
business education.”
Since 2003, Burton has been on the
professional side of sports marketing, serving
as commissioner of Australia’s National
Basketball League. For the past five years, he
has also been chief moderator at SportAccord,
the annual convention that brings together
representatives from 100 sports federations.
Today, Burton says he is excited to be part of
the USOC—especially in this Olympic year.
In his new role, Burton is responsible for
managing all aspects of sales and marketing
for Team USA. “We want to send the best
possible team to the summer or winter
Olympics every two years,” explained Burton.
“That means creating a brand and entity that
is respected and valued by all Americans,
as well as working with sponsors to activate
their involvement with the Olympics in a
world where you can watch the Olympics not
only on TV, but also on the Internet, on your
phone, and on your iPod.”
The digital revolution is just one of the
reasons for the exponential growth of the
sports industry and why a Warsaw Center
education is so valuable, Burton noted.
“Warsaw graduates are taking significant
positions in the sports industry all over the
world. They are the next wave of leaders,”
he summed up.
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