The Gazette

ASPEN, Colo. -- Caleb Moore releases from the handlebars of a 450-pound snowmobile, 35 feet off the ground, with the possibility of being crushed if his high-flying stunt goes wrong.

"This is awesome!" Moore yelled at the Winter X Games on Buttermilk Mountain, where tricks keep getting bigger, despite the recent death of one of the event's household names.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Scott Blackmun passes through the U.S. Olympic Committee's downtown headquarters, and the USOC chief executive officer sees few women, few Hispanics and even fewer blacks. He sees mostly white men -- staffers who look just like him. And he knows the USOC must become more diverse.

The Colorado Springs-based USOC gives itself a "failing grade" on diversity, Blackmun said -- 91 percent of USOC managers are white and 64 percent are men, with two female CEOs among 47 national governing bodies, which report boards that are 91 percent white and membership that is 85 percent white, according to a USOC study.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Recent studies involving Air Force wrestlers and women's soccer players have revealed it takes an athlete longer to become adjusted to altitude than research previously indicated, according to presentations at a U.S.

IOC delegation visits U.S.

By Brian Gomez

The Gazette

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The head of the International Olympic Committee is in Colorado Springs on a rare visit. So are 15 other IOC members, joined by more than 100 athletes from around the world.

For nearly two years, since Scott Blackmun became the U.S. Olympic Committee's chief executive officer, the USOC has focused its sights on increasing international interaction, on assuming a more active role in the Olympic movement.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- I remember those long-ago days when college conferences were founded on concepts such as natural rivalries and geography. I miss those days, even if they aren't completely over.

Air Force is considering bolting from the Mountain West Conference, where it currently tangles against neighbors Colorado State, Wyoming and New Mexico.

The Falcons could soon compete in the Big East Conference, where it would travel two time zones to compete against Connecticut, Rutgers, Cincinnati, South Florida, West Virginia and Louisville.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Nearly 40 years ago, Denver gave away the Olympic rings. Now, it wants them back.

The U.S. Olympic Committee has had preliminary talks with Denver about the chance of a bid for the 2022 Winter Games, USOC chief executive officer Scott Blackmun revealed Friday after his keynote address during the U.S. Olympic Assembly at the Antlers Hilton.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Angela Ruggiero is back. So is Caitlin Cahow. Ditto for Julie Chu and Jenny Potter.

The U.S. women's ice hockey team isn't rebuilding after a third straight Olympics minus a gold medal. It's reloading in hopes of topping the podium at the 2014 Sochi Games.