Relations between the USOC and the rest of the Olympic family have been strained in recent times and Blackmun has set as his main target rebuilding the America's reputation.

The USOC have spent much of the last decade embroiled in a series of scandals and disputes that many believe have harmed the Olympics.

These range from drug scandals to rows over marketing revenue to attempts to try and set up its own television channel against the wishes of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Relations were further stretched following Chicago’s humiliating first round exit last October in the voting for the 2016 Olympics despite a bid process costing $80 million (£52 million).

The fact was articulated by several IOC members afterwards who blamed the USOC’s poor relationship with the Movement for the disastrous showing in the 2016 bid process.

Under the leadership of Blackmun, who took over from acting chief executive Stephanie Streeter earlier this year, the USOC appears to be making conscious steps to be part of the Movement.

But Blackmun, who is here with a variety of USOC senior staff, including USOC chief communications officer Patrick Sandusky, insisted it was just about his organisation wanting to be part of the Olympic Movement as opposed to feeling the need to build bridges with the IOC.

He told insidethegames: "I don’t think we came over here with the view that it was to build bridges.

"We came over here because it’s an important event for the Olympic Movement and we wanted to be part of it."

Blackmun also claimed that he is a big admirer of the concept of the Youth Olympics and impressed by what he has seen so far at the inaugural event.

He said: "I think it’s great that the country has embraced the Games as much as they have.

"I think it is a great way to talk about Olympism where you are not really focusing exclusively on the sport side but the values side too and that is what I see here.

"I think we [the United States] are looking for great success over here but not necessarily on the field of play. 

"I think it is more about making sure that kids understand what Olympism is all about, the spirit of fair play and competition and competing to the best of your ability."



The US flag at the Opening Ceremony will be carried by Hannah Carson, the top-ranked female high school javelin thrower in America, who is from Chandler, Arizona, and encapsulates the kind of image that Blackmun wants the team to portray.

"It's very exciting to be the flag bearer," Carson said.

"My grandpa is an Army veteran and is a big role model - someone I really look up to.

"He served 23 years and 11 months, and he fought for our country, so I know this will make him proud.

"I think it's going to be a good challenge here, to go against top international competition."

With the Youth Olympic Games set to be an ongoing event -  Innsbruck will host the first Winter Youth Olympics Games in 2012 and Nanjing are already confirmed as hosts for the 2014 Summer Games - Blackmun refused to rule out a bid from the United States for the event somewhere down the line.

He said: "I think by all means ([ would like to see the Youth Olympics come to the United States].

"I think it’s a great event but I think we just have to wait and see how it plays itself out.

"I’m sure that it will be a little bit different each time it is held depending on where it is held but so far so good as far as I am concerned."

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