Join Olympians and Paralympians for a Sports Demonstration Breakfast: Support National Olympic Day!
Jun 20, 2011
Press Release
Facts and Figures
On this page: United States Olympic Committee - USOC Paralympic Program - Paralympic Military & Veterans Program
United States Olympic Committee
Mission
To support United States Olympic and Paralympic athletes in achieving sustained competitive excellence and preserve the Olympic ideals, and thereby inspire all Americans.
Olympism and Olympic Ideals
A philosophy of life rooted in the balanced development of the mind, body and character, combining culture and education with a view to promoting peace, understanding, dignity, fair play and respect for others.
Organizational Priorities
Over 80 percent of the USOC budget is dedicated to programs and services that benefit athletes and National Governing Bodies (NGBs). This includes:
• Direct financial support, stipends, educational grants and health insurance
• Programs to develop sport in the U.S. (sport science, coaching, nutrition, strength & conditioning)
• Resources for athletes to promote excellence on and off the field of play
• Development of grassroots programs and spreading the Olympic ideals
• Generating revenue to ensure the long-term impact of USOC efforts and programs
National Governing Bodies (45 NGBs serve as coordinating organizations for amateur sport in the U.S.)
• 37 NGBs receive direct payments from the USOC to facilitate top performances from elite athletes
• Over 30 receive business services from the USOC, including strategic planning and media support
• 26 NGBs have undergone comprehensive governance reform since 2005, facilitated by the USOC
• 39 Olympic Trials or Olympic Exhibitions are managed by the USOC
Athlete Support
• More than 1,000 elite athletes receive health and major medical insurance provided by the USOC
• 1,500+ athletes have benefited from USOC-provided career transition services since 2005
• In 2008, the Olympic Training Centers in Colorado Springs, Lake Placid and Chula Vista served:
517 long-term program athletes; 16,649 short-term participants; 1,265 Paralympic participants; and 3,400 international athletes and leaders from 66 countries
• The USOC is partnered with 10 elite athlete training facilities, totaling $3.5 million of investment
Olympic Outreach
• Community Olympic Development Programs have introduced 405,000+ youth to Olympic sport
• 4,800 injured service members have been introduced to Paralympic sport programs
• Through the Team for Tomorrow initiative, U.S. Olympians and Paralympians have donated hundreds of volunteer hours in their local communities, including builds with Habitat for Humanity
• The Colorado Springs Olympic Training Complex welcomes 115,000 annual visitors
General Facts
• The USOC is one of only four nations in the world that are responsible for both the Olympic and Paralympic program. The USOC’s mission statement was changed to include Paralympic in late-2003, creating an organizational focus on building the Paralympic program in the U.S. through its U.S. Paralympics Division.
• More than 30 million Americans have a physical or visual disability. A majority of these individuals do not participate in regular physical activity
• Recent research shows that daily physical activity results in reduced stress, depression and secondary medical conditions and increases self-esteem, education success, employment rates and quality of life.
• Participation in physical activity - or a return to the norm - is often the most critical mental and physical aspect of the rehabilitation process for both the injured person, and that individual’s support network – family, friends and peers. That is what makes the Paralympic movement so important.
• The USOC is partnering with community, military, veteran and Paralympic organizations to create more opportunities for individuals with physical and visual disabilities to engage in sport and physical activity.
• Paralympic, community and veteran organizations are investing more than $40 million in private resources annually to develop programs for persons with physical disabilities at the community level.
• Paralympic Sport Clubs are community-based organizations developed to involve persons with physical and visual disabilities in sports and physical activity, regardless of skill or interest level. Currently, 105 communities have partnered with the USOC, to create a local Paralympic Sport Club. The goal is to have programming in 250 U.S. communities by 2012.
Paralympic Programs
• Paralympic Sport Clubs are community organizations developed to involve persons with physical and visual disabilities in physical activity, regardless of skill or interest level. Currently, 89 communities have partnered with the USOC, with a goal of having 250 U.S. communities establish programs by 2012.
• The USOC Paralympic Military and Veterans Program enhances the rehabilitation, readiness and quality of life of injured service members and veterans. Programs currently exist at more than 30 Military Medical Centers, Warrior Transition Units and Veterans Facilities in collaboration with the Paralympic Sport Club network.
Paralympic Military & Veterans Program
The USOC Paralympic Military Program collaborates with local agencies to provide training, technical assistance and Paralympic ambassadors for injured service members and veterans to participate in daily physical activity as an aspect of their rehabilitation.
Research shows that physical activity is an important aspect of the rehabilitation process with impacts including:
• Enhanced self-esteem
• Lower stress levels and secondary medical conditions
• Higher achievement levels in education and employment
Program highlights include:
• Training in the development and implementation of sports and physical activity programs for injured service members has been provided to nearly 2,250 community leaders within the past year;
• New programs have been initiated at four DOD Medical Treatment Facilities, 31Warrior Transition Units, 7 Wounded Warrior Battalions/Detachments and 19 Veterans facilities with ongoing programming, technical assistance and provision of Paralympic mentors;
• Since April 2008, 10,625 injured service members have been introduced to physical activity through ongoing sports programs at the community level in collaboration with Military and Veteran Medical Treatment Facilities and/or installations;
• In 2009 & 2010, grants have been provided to thirty nine community/military partnerships throughout the country. These programs will offer 3,321 injured service members sports opportunities to enhance their rehabilitation at the community level;
• More than 175 injured service members have been identified as individuals who have demonstrated the potential to pursue higher levels of athlete training and performance, and;
• Five Veterans, four of which have physical disabilities, have been hired to implement the program.
The USOC and Paralympic Organizations throughout the country continue to utilize existing infrastructure and resources to meet the needs of injured service members and veterans, thus making the program extremely cost effective.
