Nike Inc. has extended its sponsorship of the United States Olympic
and Paralympics teams until 2016, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced. The deal makes Nike the official outfitter of the U.S. Olympic team for
the 2012 and 2016 Summer Games in London and Rio de Janeiro and the 2014
Winter Olympic games in Sochi, Russia.
The deal includes providing footwear and apparel for
the US Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including the medal stand uniform
that will be worn on the award podium and during medal ceremonies.
It extends a
partnership that started in 2005 and has included the Winter Olympics in
Turin and Vancouver in 2006 and 2010 and the Summer Games in Beijing in
2008.
“The Olympic Games represent Nike's core DNA – to provide
innovation and inspiration to athletes at the highest level,” said
Elliott Hill, the general manager of Nike in North America. “We are proud to support our US athletes and are excited to continue Nike's partnership with the US Olympic Committee (USOC).”
Nike
will also provide the award uniforms for the 2014 and 2016 US Youth
Olympic teams, and the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American teams in
Toronto.
“We are proud to extend our partnership with Nike
through 2016, a company that brings innovation to athletes the world
over,” said USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun. “Nike's skill
at developing performance-driven apparel and footwear has been
instrumental in equipping US Olympians and Paralympians as they strive
to reach the pinnacle in athletic excellence. We thank Nike for its support of America's athletes.”
Nike
also sponsors several national governing bodies, including USA
Basketball, US Soccer Federation and USA Track & Field, all of which
will feature athletes competing in Nike kit at London 2012.
