Stupid team travel arrangements are one of USS's biggest wastes of money:

Did you know that when USSPEEDSKATING buys plane tickets for its athletes to fly overseas for competitions, they often pay hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars more than the fare that any individual could find online for the same flight? And it's not like their travel agent finds them flights that are convenient: The skaters are still getting up in the wee hours to catch a 5 AM flight, having long layovers, and transferring at out-of-the-way airports.

Why is this happening? I've heard this complaint from several people, but nothing has been done about it. USSPEEDSKATING has been making all its arrangements through the same travel agent -- Howard something or other, down in Florida, and he always does the same thing: Finds inconvenient flights at exorbitant, rip-off prices.

And, don't forget about all those officials who have to go to all the competitions and clinics, as well. It really ticks me off that you'd rather pay OUT OF YOUR OWN POCKET to send a bunch of administrators to Torino, than to LET THE USOC PAY for a couple of desperately needed alternates or team pursuit members for your women's team.

Wake up, USSPEEDSKATING. You're too poor to be careless with your travel arrangements.