The International Olympic Committee (IOC) re-elected IOC President Jacques Rogge by An 88-1 vote at the close of the 121st Session.

After thanking the IOC members for their continued support, Rogge outlined an ambitious second-term agenda to strengthen and improve the Olympic Movement.

“We have much more to do,” he told his colleagues. Rogge said one of his top priorities is be to implement the recommendations of the recently completed XIII Congress. He also emphasised the importance of the new Youth Olympic Games, which will debut in Singapore in August, followed by the Youth Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 2012

“We will take this initiative from infancy to maturity and leave a lasting legacy for the world’s youth,” he said. “We will safeguard and strengthen our assets, and improve our framework for sharing revenues.

“We will continue to support National Olympic Committees and the International Federations, and we will defend the autonomy of sport wherever it is threatened.

“We will be staunch allies for athletes. We will continue to lead the fight against doping, and we will establish a new independent monitoring body to combat irregular betting and match fixing.
“We will narrow the gap in sport between the developed and the developing worlds; and between men and women.

“We will redouble our efforts to place sport at the service of mankind — to inspire young and old alike; to give athletes the opportunity to lead by example; and promote the Olympic values of fair play, respect, solidarity and the pursuit of excellence.”

Rogge, who was first elected at the 112th IOC Session in Moscow in 2001, is the eighth IOC President. The IOC has undertaken a series of reforms during his tenure to improve IOC governance and maintain the Games as the world’s premier sporting event.

The changes include a more structured system to routinely review and refresh the Olympic sports programme; improvements in judging and refereeing; an aggressive anti-doping programme; and steps to restrain the size and cost of the Games.

The IOC has quadrupled its financial reserves during Rogge’s term — from $105 million in 2001 to well over $400 million today — while distributing record revenue to International Federations, National Olympic Committees and the Olympic Solidarity programme, which offers financial and training assistance to athletes.

Other initiatives have sought to spread the Olympic values through programmes in the fields of education, culture, women’s advancement, the environment and Sport for All. The IOC adopted the UN’s Millennium Development Goals and the environmental goals of Agenda 21, and forged closer ties with the UN to support the Olympic Truce, development through sport, education, humanitarian aid and health protection around the world.

Rogge has long and varied experience with the Olympic Movement. He competed in the sailing competitions at the Games of the Olympiad in Mexico in 1968, Munich in 1972 and Montreal in 1976. He was also a member of the Belgian national rugby team.

He served as President of the Belgian National Olympic Committee from 1989 to 1992. He became President of the European Olympic Committees in 1989, an IOC member in 1991 and an Executive Board member in 1998.

Rogge, 67, was born in Ghent, Belgium, and is an orthopaedic surgeon by profession. He and his wife, Anne, have two adult children.

Rogge is the first IOC President to serve under terms limits approved by the IOC Executive Board in late 1999. Presidents are restricted to an eight-year term, followed by a single four-year term.

Excitement of the Olympic Movement to be Delivered 24/7 365-Days-a-Year on Multiple Platforms; Support Training and Development of American Athletes

The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and Comcast Corporation announced that they have entered into an agreement to form the U.S. Olympic Network (USON), the first-ever cable television network devoted solely to the excitement, competition and values connected with the Olympic Movement.

Expected to launch in 2010, broadcasting year-round, and using multiple platforms, including television, video on demand and online, the USON will provide a window into the quests of American athletes to reach the pinnacle of their sports. Viewers will be able to watch live coverage of championship competitions and, after 2012, Olympic trial events in a wide range of sports, plus live, non-stop news reports, commentary, interviews from the locations of future Olympic and Paralympic Games, and classic Olympic footage through its exclusive U.S. access to thousands of hours of programming.

Additionally, the USON will provide video on demand content, enabling subscribers to watch their favorite Olympic athletes and their feats whenever they want. A broadband platform will also be established for Internet customers to experience the passion of the Olympic Games online with news, highlights, and event coverage. The transaction is subject to closing conditions.

“The U.S. Olympic Network will be a dream come true for fans of the Olympic Games, delivering rich year-round content associated with the world’s greatest sporting competitions,” said Stephanie Streeter, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the USOC. “By bringing the stories, competitions and history of the Olympic Movement into American homes year-round, the USOC hopes to not only inspire a new generation of athletes but also to educate young people about the ideals and values of the Olympic movement. And, we believe strongly that the USON can also serve as a template that can be used in other parts of the world to expand access to the Olympic experience. Plus, the USON’s unparalleled year-round exposure of the Olympic brand — already one of the world’s most recognized and respected — will generate compelling opportunities for Olympic sponsors to expand their association with the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement. At the same time, we believe it will enhance interest in and viewership of Olympic-related coverage on broadcast networks. We are excited to work with all of our partners, and everyone associated with the Olympic Movement, to establish the USON as the foremost full time channel for Olympic-related content.”

Jeff Shell, President of Comcast Programming Group, said, “Comcast is pleased to partner with the United States Olympic Committee on the U.S. Olympic Network. Promoting the spirit of the Olympic Games in the homes of millions of Americans will support our athletes and bring more Olympic entertainment to our customers.”

“We are excited to see this important development for the USOC,” added Matt Van Houten, Chair, USOC Athletes’ Advisory Council. “It will do great things for America’s athletes by bringing them and the Olympic Movement into the public’s awareness on a year-round basis, not just for a couple of weeks every two years.”

USON is conceived as a network to support the public interest of furthering the Olympic Movement’s international mission of promoting peace through the Games. The USOC intends to use a significant portion of its net proceeds from the network’s operations to help fund the training of American athletes.

Allen & Company served as an advisor the USOC.

Programming

The USON will appeal to a broad demographic consistent with the country’s strong interest in the Olympic Games. It intends to air programming that is appealing to a younger demographic interested in sports and pop culture, as well as the traditional Olympic fan base with a greater understanding and recollection of the historic significance of past Olympic Games.

USON will deliver compelling programming such as:

• The USOC’s major events, including those sponsored by National Governing Bodies of Olympic and Pan American sport organizations, and the exclusive rights to the U.S. Olympic Trials after 2012;
• Archive-based shows utilizing thousands of hours of existing Olympic content;
• Films, movies and documentaries;
• Original series;
• Instructional programming; and
• News and talk shows that feature the engaging personalities of Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls, and their quest to reach the pinnacles of their sports.

The USON, in addition to its cable and satellite presence, will integrate new media across all available platforms that will enable a strong personal connection between Team USA and Americans who will be inspired by their Olympic quest.

Expanded Opportunities for USOC Sponsors

Through a special Congressional charter, the USOC holds exclusive rights to use the words “Olympic” and “Olympiad,” the Olympic rings and other Olympic imagery and phrases within the U.S. Given the positive and powerful nature of the Olympic brand, several of the world’s leading companies have made significant investments to become Official USOC Sponsors and have the right to use Olympic marks.

USOC sponsors have made this investment despite the limited windows around the Olympic Games that are held for 17 days every two years. The USON will give USOC sponsors a new, 365-day-a-year opportunity to promote their association with the Olympic brand beyond this limited window. Several USOC sponsors have already expressed interest in becoming sponsors of the USON.

Source: U.S. Olympic Committee

Special induction ceremony to serve as Sprint to the Finish Chicago 2016 fundraiser; Inaugural Olive Branch Achievement Award winner to also be announced

The fans have weighed in, the votes have been counted and the results are final. Today, the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and Allstate Insurance Company announced the members of the Class of 2009 who will be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate. The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame is the only national sports hall of fame that uses fan voting as part of its selection process. This year’s class is comprised of five Olympians, one Paralympian, one team, as well as three additional individuals: a coach, veteran and a special contributor.

The star-studded inductee list includes Michael Johnson (athletics), Picabo Street (alpine skiing), Teresa Edwards (basketball), Willye White (athletics), Mary T. Meagher (swimming), Sarah Will (Paralympic alpine skiing), the 1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team, longtime Men’s Gymnastics coach Abie Grossfeld, skiing veteran Andrea Mead-Lawrence, and special contributor Peter Ueberroth. Amazingly, members of this talented group of athletes, teams and coaches have been a part of a combined 21 Olympic and Paralympic Games and brought home a total of 46 medals.

“Olympians are champions, role models and leaders that inspire us to pursue our passions,” said Tom Wilson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Allstate. “The Class of 2009 continues this tradition and embodies the commitment to excellence and drive to succeed. They make us proud to be Americans. Allstate is proud to honor them as members of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.”

The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2009 will be formally introduced and honored August 12 at a banquet-style induction ceremony at McCormick Place in Chicago. Through a partnership with Chicago 2016, the ceremony will also serve as a final fundraiser for the organizing committee’s bid to bring the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the city. The International Olympic Committee will announce the host city on October 2. The induction ceremony, hosted by Dan Hicks and Summer Sanders, will air in a nationally-televised broadcast on NBC on September 5 at 2 p.m. ET.

In addition, a new international award – the Olive Branch Achievement Award – will be introduced and presented at the Induction Ceremony. The award was created to honor an individual who best represents the international ideals of the Olympic Movement by working to build a peaceful and better world through sport. The Olive Branch Achievement Award recipient will be announced in the coming weeks.

“The USOC is very excited to honor this year’s U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame legends who have inspired many generations in this country with their courage and thrilling Olympic performances,” said USOC Acting Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Streeter. “Each of these Olympians is a worthy addition to the Hall of Fame and an overall symbol of the U.S. Olympic Movement. We’re also pleased to continue to partner with Allstate, a company that shares our commitment to America’s Olympians.”

Nominees for the Class of 2009 were selected by a seven-person nominating committee consisting of Olympians, members of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, an NGB executive director, and a USOC representative. Fan votes submitted at www.teamusa.org also played an important role in the selection process, with more than 112,000 votes cast during the voting period.

Tables and tickets for the induction ceremony may be purchased online at support.chicago2016.org/halloffame.

About the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Induction Presented by Allstate:

Teresa Edwards, Basketball

Teresa Edwards is the most decorated Olympic basketball player in the world, male or female, with four gold medals and one bronze medal in five Olympic Games. She is the USA’s only five-time Olympic basketball player and one of only three five-time Olympic basketball players (male or female) in the world. She is also one of only three U.S. Olympians to win gold in four different Olympic Games, joining former teammate Lisa Leslie and sprinter Carl Lewis. Only five other non-U.S. athletes have accomplished the feat.

Edwards played on the 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Teams. Those teams combined to achieve a 31-1 record and the 1984, 1988, 1996 and 2000 U.S. teams each went undefeated to claim Olympic gold. All told, Edwards was a member of 20 USA Basketball teams, including two World Championship gold medal teams, and overall, teams with Edwards as a member compiled a 189-13 win-loss record.

Michael Johnson, Athletics

Michael Johnson will forever be known as the golden man of track & field. Wearing his trademark golden Nike shoes, he oftentimes left the rest of the field in his dust with his upright running posture. Johnson won four Olympic medals – all gold – while competing in three Olympic Games. He made his Olympic debut at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games and was a part of the World Record-breaking 4×400-meter relay team. His signature moments came at the Atlanta Games, when he became the only man to accomplish the 200-400 double, winning both races with ease and breaking the World Record in the 200 meters. He defended his title in the 400 meters at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Johnson, a Baylor University graduate, won eight World Championship titles. His World Records in the 400 and the 4×400 relay still stand, and his 200 record of 19.32 held up for 12 years until Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt broke it at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Mary T. Meagher, Swimming

Mary T. Meagher, nicknamed “Madame Butterfly,” won three gold medals in swimming at the 1984 Olympic Games, highlighting a decade of dominance that included World Record swims throughout the 1980s. She qualified and was expected to medal at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games but was unable to compete due to the U.S. boycott. She made her Olympic debut at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and won triple gold, taking both the 100- and 200-meter butterfly and swimming the butterfly leg on the 4×100 medley relay. At the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, she finished her Olympic career with silver in the 4×100 medley relay and a bronze in the 200 fly. Meagher was one of eight U.S. Olympians selected to carry the Olympic Flag into the Opening Ceremony of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games

Her success was not limited to the Olympic stage. Meagher captured several medals at the World Championships in 1982 and 1986, including a pair of individual titles. She won 24 National Titles and she also owns two more golds apiece competing at the Pan American Games and the Pan Pacific Championships.

Picabo Street, Alpine Skiing

A three-time Olympian, Picabo Street first joined the U.S. Ski Team in 1989 and earned a silver medal at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in the downhill. The Sun Valley, Idaho, native left her mark in Olympic history in 1998, taking gold in the Nagano super G by a mere hundredth of a second.

Street medaled in three World Championships, earning combined silver in 1993, and super G bronze and downhill gold in 1996. Winning six of nine World Cup competitions in 1995, Street became the first American to win a World Cup season title in a speed event. After a leg injury and two years of rehabilitation, Street returned to compete in 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City before retiring. With nine career victories, she was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2005.

Willye White, Athletics

The first woman to compete for the U.S. Team in five Olympic Games, Willye White’s Olympic career spanned 16 years, from 1956 to 1972. Specializing in the long jump and 100 meters, she earned a silver medal in long jump at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne at the age of 16, marking the first time an American woman medaled in the event. She won her second silver medal in 1964 as a member of the 4×100 meter relay team in Tokyo.

White was a member of more than 30 international and national track teams and won 12 Amateur Athletic Union long jump titles during her career. She set seven American records and won 13 national indoor and outdoor titles. She has been inducted into 11 sports hall of fames, including her 1981 induction into the USATF National Track & Field Hall of Fame.

White passed away in February 2007.

Sarah Will, Paralympic Alpine Skiing

Sarah Will had her first run of the mountain at the age of four. From that moment on she was hooked on the sport. In 1988, the Olympic skiing hopeful was in a serious skiing accident that paralyzed her from the waist down. Rather than give up the sport she loved, she took up mono skiing and was back on the slopes just one year later. Four years after her start in the mono-ski, she competed in her first Paralympic Games, winning gold in downhill and super G in 1992 in Albertville, France.

Will won a total of 12 Paralympic gold medals and one silver medal throughout her four Paralympic experiences, making her the most decorated female mono skier in U.S. Ski Team history. In 2002, Will took the Paralympic alpine skiing gold medal sweep, winning all four races, along with the U.S. Paralympic Spirit Award.

1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team

Simply put, the 1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team dominated. In the first Olympic Games to allow NBA players, the Dream Team steamrolled the rest of the world on its way to gold. In eight games, they outscored opponents by an average margin of 44 points, including a 121-76 blowout of Lithuania in the semifinals. In the gold medal game, they faced a Croatian squad featuring a few fellow NBA names and culminated in a 117-85 victory.

The star-studded American roster was comprised of NBA player legends: Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson and John Stockton, and a legendary coaching staff consisting of the late Chuck Daly, and assistants P.J. Carlesimo, Mike Krzyzewski and Lenny Wilkens. How famous was the group? In addition to fans, players representing opposing teams from all over the world asked for the Americans’ autographs and pictures before each tipoff.

Abie Grossfeld, Coach

Abie Grossfeld served as head coach for the 1984 U.S. Olympic Men’s Gymnastics Team that earned eight medals, including the U.S. men’s only Olympic team gold medal. He was also the head coach of the men’s gymnastics team at the 1972 and 1988 Olympic Games, as well as assistant coach for the men’s team in 1964 and the women’s team in 1968. He was the personal coach of Peter Kormann, who became the first U.S. man to win an Olympic medal in 44 years with a bronze medal on floor exercise in 1976. Grossfeld also served as head coach for the U.S. men’s gymnastics team at five World Championships and two Pan American Games, including the 1987 Pan Am Games when the men won the team gold medal. The U.S. national coach for men’s gymnastics from 1981-88, Grossfeld coached the first U.S. men’s team that defeated the USSR in 1982. He also served as a collegiate gymnastics head coach for 42 years, spending one year at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and 41 years at Southern Connecticut State University.

As an athlete, Grossfeld represented the USA internationally from 1952-67. He competed in two Olympic Games (1956, 1960), two World Championships (1958, 1962) and three Pan American Games (1955, 1959, 1963: the U.S. won the team gold all three years). At the University of Illinois, he won four NCAA titles and seven Big Ten Championships, as well as the Big Ten Medal of Honor. Additional honors include: National Coach of the Year for USA Gymnastics (1984) and the NCAA (1973, 1975 and 1976); USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame (as an athlete, coach and contributor); and the first and only American to achieve the status of FIG Master Coach (2000).

Andrea Mead-Lawrence, Veteran (Skiing)

Andrea Mead-Lawrence skied at three Olympic Winter Games, including the 1952 Oslo Games where she won gold medals in slalom and giant slalom. Before America became the skiing force it is today, she helped build the U.S. ski program from the ground up to compete with the traditional European powers. Mead-Lawrence became the youngest athlete to be chosen for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Alpine Ski Team when, at age 14, she made the 1948 squad. In her Olympic debut, she finished eighth in the slalom at St. Moritz. Four years later, her double gold performance was lauded by Hall of Fame Olympic film producer Bud Greenspan, who called her his No. 1 Winter Olympian. She concluded her Olympic career in three races at the Cortina 1956 Olympic Winter Games, finishing fourth in the giant slalom. Mead-Lawrence, the only U.S. woman to win two skiing gold medals at one Olympic Winter Games succumbed to cancer on March 30, 2009 at age 76. She is survived by her five children and four grandchildren.

Peter Ueberroth, Special Contributor

Over the last three decades, Peter Ueberroth may have been the most influential figure to the Olympic Movement in the United States. From 1980-84, he was President of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, heading the first private non-profit organization responsible for staging and operating an Olympic Games. Under Ueberroth’s leadership, the Los Angeles Games came away with a surplus of $238 million that continues to support youth and sports programs throughout the United States. Ueberroth was the first Chair of the restructured USOC Board of Directors from 2004-08. He stabilized the leadership of the USOC during a turbulent time, and his leadership created momentum and credibility for the Olympic Movement in the United States. Olympic TV ratings shot up during his tenure, which ended with a record 110 U.S. Team medal tally at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Ueberroth continues to aid the USOC as President in an honorary capacity. He has received the Olympic Order-Gold from the International Olympic Committee, the IOC’s highest honor.

For more information on the 2009 inductees, including bios and photos, and a comprehensive list of existing U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame members, please visit www.teamusa.org.

U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame

The charter class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame was enshrined in 1983, with such Olympic legends as Cassius Clay, Peggy Fleming, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Mark Spitz, and the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team. Annual additions continued through 1992, adding Olympic legends such as Bart Conner, Dorothy Hamill, “Sugar Ray” Leonard, Carl Lewis, Greg Louganis, and Mary Lou Retton.

In becoming the presenting sponsor of the induction ceremony, Allstate sparked the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame’s revitalization in 2004. During the company’s five-year tenure as a partner, the Hall of Fame has inducted numerous decorated Olympic athletes including: Bonnie Blair, Janet Evans, Florence Griffith Joyner, Dan Jansen, Kristi Yamaguchi, and the 1996 “Magnificent Seven” U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team. Following last June’s induction of the Class of 2008, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame currently consists of 213 distinguished athletes and 13 special contributors.

Source: Allstate

Hall of Fame Induction ceremony to support Chicago bid for 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and Allstate Insurance Company announced the finalists for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2009 at a press event at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. The star-studded nominee list of 15 individuals, five teams and five Paralympians includes Olympic legends such as Teresa Edwards, Gary Hall, Sr., Michael Johnson, Picabo Street, the 1992 Men’s Olympic Basketball Team, and more.

The finalists were unveiled at an event headlined by Allstate chairman, president and chief executive officer, Tom Wilson, along with USOC acting CEO Stephanie Streeter, Chicago 2016 chairman and CEO Patrick Ryan, and U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame member John Naber.

“The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame celebrates our honorees’ commitment to excellence and recognizes Americans who are role models and heroes,” Wilson said. “Each of us can find strength, passion and inspiration in these ordinary people who achieved extraordinary success in the Olympics. They help make us proud to be Americans.”

From now through June 16, fans can cast their votes for the 2009 class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame online at www.teamusa.org. The inducted class will include five individuals, one team and one Paralympian, as well as three additional individuals: a coach, veteran and special contributor. The inductees will be revealed in early July and will be honored at a black-tie induction ceremony on August 12 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate is the only national sports Hall of Fame that includes fan voting.

“The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame honors Olympic and Paralympic legends who have inspired our country for generations, uniting us behind Team USA and giving us role models who epitomize the Olympic ideals,” Streeter said. “Allstate’s generous support of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and dedication to celebrating the accomplishments of America’s Olympic and Paralympic greats further illustrates their commitment to the Olympic Movement and America’s athletes.”

The August 12 induction ceremony will honor the 2009 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame class and introduce a new international award – the Olive Branch Award – given to an individual or individuals who best represent the international ideals of the Olympic Games by working to build a peaceful and better world through sport. Also new to 2009, the induction ceremony will feature a special fundraising banquet to benefit Chicago 2016, Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“We are very excited for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, presented by Allstate, to return to Chicago for the fourth time,” Ryan said. “Chicago is a city that truly embraces the Olympic Movement, and to have a Chicago company like Allstate involved in celebrating historic Olympic and Paralympic achievements showcases the broad support our city has for the movement.”

Nominees for the induction class of 2009 were selected by a 10-person nominating committee consisting of athletes, members of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, historians, and USOC representatives. Fans can vote by visiting www.teamusa.org.

The nominees are:

INDIVIDUALS
Greg Barton, canoe/kayak
Jeff Blatnick, wrestling
Valerie Brisco-Hooks, athletics
Tracie Ruiz-Conforto, swimming
Teresa Edwards, basketball
Gary Hall, Sr., swimming
Michael Johnson, athletics
Mary T. Meagher, swimming
Sheila Young Ochowicz, speedskating
Darrell Pace, archery
Terry Schroeder, water polo
John Smith, wrestling
Picabo Street, alpine skiing
Peter Westbrook, fencing
Willye White, athletics

PARALYMPIANS
Jean Driscoll, athletics
David Larson, athletics
Greg Mannino, alpine skiing
Tony Volpentest, athletics
Sarah Will, alpine skiing

TEAMS
1976 U.S. Women’s 4×100 Freestyle Relay Team
1992 U.S. Men’s Basketball Team
1996 U.S. Synchronized Swimming Team
1998 U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team
2002 U.S. Women’s Bobsled Team

For more information on the 2009 nominees, including bios and photos, and a comprehensive list of existing U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame members, please visit www.teamusa.org.

U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame

The charter class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame was enshrined in 1983, with such Olympic legends as Cassius Clay, Peggy Fleming, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Mark Spitz, and the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team. Annual additions continued through 1992, adding Olympic legends such as Bart Conner, Dorothy Hamill, “Sugar Ray” Leonard, Carl Lewis, Greg Louganis, and Mary Lou Retton.

In becoming the presenting sponsor, Allstate sparked the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame’s revitalization in 2004. During the company’s five-year tenure as a partner, the Hall of Fame has inducted numerous decorated Olympic athletes including: Bonnie Blair, Janet Evans, Florence Griffith Joyner, Dan Jansen, Kristi Yamaguchi, and the 1996 “Magnificent Seven” U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team. Following last June’s induction of the Class of 2008, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame currently consists of 213 Distinguished Athletes and 13 special contributors.

Source: Allstate Insurance Company

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Family celebrated International Women’s Day and the 2009 Women and Sport Awards, where five exceptional personalities in the world of sport received accolades.

• Trophy for Africa: Lydia Nsekera (Burundi)
• Trophy for the Americas: María Caridad Colón Ruenes (Cuba)
• Trophy for Asia: Arvin Dashjamts (Mongolia)
• Trophy for Europe: Danira Nakic Bilic (Croatia)
• Trophy for Oceania:  Auvita Rapilla (Papua New Guinea)

Addressing the winners and the audience, President Jacques Rogge said: “I am pleased to publicly pay tribute to five remarkable women who, through their commitment, enthusiasm, drive and courage, have helped increase the number of women taking part in sport at all levels, both on and off the field.”

Sail Barcelona to Rome departing April 26, 2009

Windstar Cruises, which operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts that explore hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world’s most treasured destinations, offers guests a unique opportunity to cruise with Olympian Rafer Johnson aboard a Barcelona to Rome cruise on Wind Surf, departing April 26, 2009.

Windstar’s Signature Collection Host Series features distinguished guests and lecturers throughout the 2009 season including Rafer Johnson. Each stateroom will receive an autographed copy by Johnson of “Rome 1960: The Olympics that Changed the World” that profiles athletes, including Johnson, competing in the historic 1960 Olympics, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning and best-selling author David Maraniss. During the cruise, Johnson will speak and offer a question and answer session on his experience in the 1960 Olympics, host a table of guests at dinner on selected evenings and accompany guests on an exclusive Rome shore excursion.

Johnson set a new Olympic record to win a Gold Medal in the decathlon at the 1960 Rome Olympics. He went on to be named Associated Press Athlete of the Year and Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Johnson had the honor of lighting the torch at the opening ceremonies. Johnson also was a World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame inductee, one of ESPN’s 100 Greatest North American Athletes of the 20th Century and among the 100 Most Influential Student Athletes named by the NCAA. After winning his gold medal, he acted in films, was a sportscaster and worked on the presidential campaign of Robert Kennedy. Johnson is a founding member of the Special Olympics of Southern California.

Wind Surf’s 7-day Barcelona to Rome includes ports in Mahon, Spain; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Alghero, Italy; Porto-Vecchio, France; and Portoferraio, Italy. Cruise rates start at $1,799 per person, based on double occupancy. To compliment this sailing, Windstar is offering guests a special Rome shore excursion with Johnson. The shore excursion begins with a panoramic drive through the main sites of the 1960 Rome Olympics including views of the Olympic Stadium, Stadio Flaminio, Olympic Village, Stadio dei Marmi, Piazza do Siena, Colosseum, Bath of Caracalla, Palazzo dei Congressi and Pala Lottomatica. Lunch will follow in a restaurant in Via Appia. The 7-hour excursion is $199 per person and can be purchased online at http://www.windstarcruises.com/.

Wind Surf accommodates 312 guests and offers deluxe, oceanview staterooms that include beds with luxury linens and mattresses, flat-screen TV and DVD player, Bose SoundDock speakers for Apple iPods, waffle-weave robes with slippers and sumptuous L’Occitane products. Suites also include an extra bath, TV and sitting area. Bridge Suites give guests the additional luxury of a spacious private living room and relaxing whirlpool spa. Culinary wonders abound in Wind Surf’s The Restaurant, Degrees, Le Marche and Candles. Enjoy live music in the Lounge and cocktails in the Terrace Bar. Water sports enthusiasts will appreciate Windstar’s complimentary waterskiing, windsurfing, sailing and kayaking from the ship’s water sports platform.

Windstar’s award-winning reputation for sophisticated, yet casual elegance has been recognized by some of the most notable names in the travel world. Windstar was recently awarded “Favourite Small-Ship Cruise Line” in the U.K.’s Conde Nast Traveller’s 2008 Readers’ Travel Awards. Windstar received the highest score of any cruise line in the poll and was also only one of three cruise lines in Conde Nast Traveller’s list of the “Top 100 of the Best the Travel World has to Offer.” Celebrated Living, American Airlines’ prestigious publication for first class passengers, named Windstar Cruises “Best Small-Ship/Mid-Ship Cruise Line” on their 2008 Platinum List for the second time in a row. Readers of Porthole Cruise Magazine awarded Windstar “Most Romantic Cruise Line” and “Best Tall Ship” in the 2008 10th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Windstar has also earned top honors in Travel + Leisure’s World’s 2008 Best Awards and was lauded among “The World’s Best Small Ships” by Conde Nast Traveler.

Source: Windstar Cruises