United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee

United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee
Name	United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee
Formation	06 December 1894 (as the American Olympic Committee)
Headquarters	Colorado Springs, Colorado
Key people	Gene Sykes (Chair), Sarah Hirshland (CEO)
Website	https://www.teamusa.org

Contents

History
Organization and governance
Role and responsibilities
Funding and finances
Controversies and criticism
See also

United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States, recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee. It is responsible for supporting, entering, and overseeing American teams for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Youth Olympic Games, Pan American Games, and Parapan American Games. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the organization also manages the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Centers and administers direct financial support to athletes and National Governing Bodies for individual sports.

History

The organization traces its origins to the founding of the American Olympic Committee in 1894 by James Edward Sullivan and other sports leaders, following the establishment of the modern Olympic Games by Pierre de Coubertin. It was formally chartered by the United States Congress in 1950 through the Amateur Sports Act, which granted it exclusive jurisdiction over Olympic and Pan American sport in the nation. A significant evolution occurred in 2019 when it changed its name from the United States Olympic Committee to incorporate "Paralympic," following the merger with U.S. Paralympics. Key historical moments include the controversial 1980 Summer Olympics boycott led by President Jimmy Carter, the highly successful 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and the transformative Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act of 1998.

Organization and governance

The USOPC is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Gene Sykes, with Sarah Hirshland serving as the Chief Executive Officer. Its structure includes representation from the Athletes' Advisory Council, the National Governing Bodies Council, and a House of Delegates. The organization oversees over 50 National Governing Bodies, such as USA Swimming, USA Gymnastics, and U.S. Ski & Snowboard, which administer individual sports at the national level. Key operational divisions include U.S. Paralympics, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation, and the U.S. Center for SafeSport, an independent entity it helped create to address abuse in sport.

Role and responsibilities

The primary role of the USOPC is to field competitive teams for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, which involves selecting and funding athletes through programs like Operation Gold and the Athlete Career and Education program. It is charged with promoting the Olympic Movement within the United States, protecting the use of Olympic and Paralympic marks like the iconic Olympic rings, and ensuring compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code. The committee also organizes the quadrennial U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Team Trials for many sports and operates major training facilities in Colorado Springs, Lake Placid, and Chula Vista, California.

Funding and finances

Unlike many national Olympic committees, the USOPC does not receive direct government funding for its Olympic team, operating instead as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its revenue is primarily generated through sponsorship agreements with corporate partners like Nike, Procter & Gamble, and The Coca-Cola Company, as well as broadcast rights fees from networks such as NBCUniversal. A significant portion of funding is distributed to National Governing Bodies and athletes via grants, with additional financial support derived from philanthropic donations managed by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation.

Controversies and criticism

The USOPC has faced significant controversies, most notably its handling of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal, which led to widespread condemnation from athletes, Congress, and an investigation by the United States Department of Justice. It has been criticized for prioritizing commercial revenue over athlete welfare and for governance conflicts highlighted in reports by the United States Senate and the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics. Other major controversies include disputes over athlete protests, such as those by Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Summer Olympics, and ongoing tensions with the International Olympic Committee over revenue sharing from the Games.