HAENEL NAMED TEAM LEADER
FOR 1997-2000 OLYMPIC QUADRENNIUM

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (March 31, 1997) -- US SAILING'S Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) has named Hal Haenel (Los Angeles, Calif.) as Team Leader for the 1997-2000 Olympic Quadrennium. A veteran Olympian ('96, '92, '88), Haenel sailed a Star with skipper Mark Reynolds (San Diego, Calif.), garnering two Olympic medals ('92 Gold, '88 Silver) and a World Championship title ('95). A graduate of Columbia College (Chicago, Illinois) with a degree in film, Haenel is vice president and general manager of Hollywood Center Studios, a film production facility in Hollywood, California.

The announcement marks the first time the Team Leader role will be a separate entity from that of the OSC Chairman. "The phenomenal growth of the Olympic program has determined the need to refine the responsibilities which heretofore have been handled by one person," said OSC Chairman Bob Hobbs (Vernon, Conn.), who will concentrate on the financial planning aspects of the Team. "Haenel was an obvious choice for the Team Leader position given both his Olympic and business experience. He brings a unique perspective to the task at hand, complemented by remarkable enthusiasm." Hobbs added that the gregarious Haenel has earned the trust and respect of his fellow sailors as evidenced by his being elected Team Captain of the '96 Olympic Yachting Team.

The Team Leader's primary responsibilities are to minimize distractions and create a "home base" feeling at regatta venues; enforce team building without compromising the individuality of the athletes; and make all concerned individuals--sailors, coaches, tuning partners, staff and volunteers--recognize their importance in the Team's overall success. The Team Leader must mold and motivate a group of elite sailors into a cohesive team.

Haenel's role will also include facilitating the flow of information between the OSC and the sailors. In effect, he will be the "answer man" for class reps and coaches, attending clinics and regattas in order to get to know the sailors, learning firsthand the issues that relate to the Team's mission.

"I'm looking forward to working with Bob Hobbs and the OSC to create the best infrastructure possible for the '97 US Sailing Team," said Haenel. "Over three quadrenniums, I've seen three very different individuals handle this position, and I'm sure I'll borrow tactics from each as we build toward Sydney 2000."