About
The United States Pierre de Coubertin Committee (USPCC)—a member organization of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee (CIPC)—was founded in 1993 in Atlanta by George Hirthler and a group of Olympic colleagues who were determined to promote awareness of Baron Pierre de Coubertin and the values and ideals he had infused into the philosophy of Olympism as part of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. With the direct support of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and a Board of Directors comprised of 35 business, culture and sport leaders, the USPCC focused its activities on two ambitious projects: the development of a world-class statue of Coubertin for Centennial Olympic Park and the translation of approximately 800 pages of Coubertin’s Olympic writings into English for the first time.
The committee raised $500,000 and commissioned Raymond Kaskey to design and build the statue that became one of the most photographed and filmed elements of the Games. Raising an additional $25,000, the USPCC worked in cooperation with the IOC and Professor Norbert Muller of the University of Mainz in Germany to complete the translation work, but did not get the book designed in time for the Games. The IOC subsequently printed and released the Olympism, The Selected Writings of Pierre de Coubertin, which was distributed worldwide before the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
After the Atlanta Games, the USPCC basically went dormant although George Hirthler continued to participate in international Coubertin activities, including CIPC’s annual meetings.
Promoting the legacy of Pierre de Coubertin
Founded in Atlanta in 1993, the USPCC has relocated to Los Angeles to continue its mission
Mission
The United States Pierre de Coubertin Committee (USPCC) supports the concepts of Olympism, Olympic ideals and values and to create broader awareness of Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s life, work, the Olympic ideals he espoused, and his contribution to humanity through Olympism, his philosophy of friendship and peace through sport. The USPCC will play an active role in supporting the road to the 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Summer Games in Los Angeles, emphasizing Olympic ideals and Olympic values, integral to the Olympic Movement.
We provide access to other institutions to encourage athletic participation by all people in society, regardless of sex, age, social background, or economic status. We want to increase access to sport for all and provide everyone, in particular, young people, with the educational values of sport. As an educational tool, physical activity promotes health, prevents diseases, and increases cognitive and social development. In cooperation with partners such as the LA84 Foundation, we serve as a platform for educational initiatives, contributing to a better and more peaceful world through sport.
On to LA 2028
Eyes on Utah 2034
With the Winter Olympics returning to Utah 2034, the USPCC is already active in Salt Lake City through board member, Jon Hawkins, who is currently exploring host opportunities for the Genius of Sport exhibition with various colleges and universities in the state.
As a member of the Utah House of Representatives, Jon also serves on the Utah Sports Commission and the Utah 2034 Organizing Committee. He’ll be guiding the development of the USPCC’s national activities post LA28 as the story of the Olympic Winter Games begins to unfold.
In 2018, Hirthler and Gary Rhodes, PhD Director of the Center for Global Education at CalState Dominguez Hills, began planning the relaunch of the USPCC with a focus on igniting a broader public conversation about the Olympic ideals in the years leading up to the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
Their vision began to crystallize with the opening of the Genius of Sport exhibition in Paris. Subsequently, they build a new board of directors and began the process of reincorporating as a California non-profit. The USPCC was formally relaunched at the opening of the Genius of Sport exhibit at the USOPM in Colorado Springs on May 22, 2026.
Board of
Directors
Roald Bradstock
Community Engagement Director
Roald Bradstock is an Olympian javelin thrower and pioneering sport artist whose work bridges athletics and creative expression, earning him global recognition as “The Olympic Picasso.” A two-time Olympian, he has become a leading figure in Olympic culture through his development of the Olympism Art Genre, educational initiatives, and roles with the IOC, including serving as an expert on the Olympic Culture & Heritage Commission and leading the first Olympian Artist-in-Residence program.
Gary Rhodes
President
Dr. Gary Rhodes is an expert in international higher education, specializing in global student mobility, cross-cultural collaboration, and health and safety in study abroad programs. As Director of the Center for Global Education, he has led initiatives that connect education with international engagement, including work intersecting sports and global learning—aligning with the international values central to the Olympic movement.
Jon Hawkins
Program Director
Jon Hawkins is a multi award-winning operations and business leader with expertise in strategic growth, sales engineering, and organizational leadership, currently serving in executive roles at Adobe. He is actively connected to the Olympic Movement through his role on the board of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation and as host of the Inside the Rings podcast, where he engages global audiences on Olympic topics.
Ex officio members
Alexandra de Navacelle de Coubertin
Coubertin Family Association Representative
Alexandra is a change management consultant and leadership coach who serves as President of the Coubertin Family Association, where she helps preserve and promote the legacy of Pierre de Coubertin. Deeply connected to the Olympic Movement, she led major cultural and educational initiatives surrounding the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, including exhibitions, concerts, and conferences celebrating its 130th anniversary. Her work has been recognized for advancing Olympic heritage through high-profile collaborations and international programming.
George Hirthler
Executive Director
George Hirthler is a leading creative figure in the Olympic Movement, known for his work as a writer, producer, and strategist on major Olympic initiatives, including winning bid campaigns such as Atlanta 1996 and Los Angeles 2028. His expertise spans Olympic history, storytelling, and global branding, highlighted by projects like The Games in Black & White and his award-winning biography Genius of Sport on Pierre de Coubertin.
Kelly Salchow MacArthur
Design & Academic Director
Kelly Salchow MacArthur is a graphic design professor and Olympian whose work centers on environmental advocacy, community engagement, and visual communication for social impact. A two-time Olympic rower and member of the International Olympic Committee Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission, she actively contributes to the Olympic Movement through initiatives like the Olympian Artists Program and her role as an Artist-in-Residence during the Tokyo Games.
Natalia Camps Y Wilant
International Research Director
Natalia Camps Y Wilant is a scholar and consultant specializing in Olympic history, art history, and the strategic application of historical research across public and private sectors. Internationally published and recognized for bridging academia and practice, she is noted for translating complex historical insights into impactful, real-world initiatives.
Cindy Sisson
Marketing & Networking Director
Cindy Sisson is a veteran sports marketing executive and Executive Director of Women In Motorsports North America, with expertise in sponsorship development, fundraising, and strategic brand partnerships across motorsports and professional sports. Her connection to the Olympic Movement began with her role as a logistics manager for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, supporting international operations and dignitaries.
Kelsey Trainor
Legal & Entertainment Council
Kelsey Trainor is a sports and entertainment attorney and executive specializing in media, production, and legal strategy across the sports industry. With a background spanning television, digital media, and athlete advocacy, she is a prominent voice in women’s sports, advancing equity through initiatives like her “Invest in women. Pay women. Hire women” platform and high-profile collaborations. Her work in elevating women’s sports and athlete representation aligns with the Olympic Movement’s core values.
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