POSTED: Thursday July 9th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Olympic Family Members React to U.S. Olympic Network

US Olympic Network in partnership with Comcast

USA Volleyball applauds the announcement by the USOC of the launch of the US Olympic Network. This is a dream many years in the making. The partnership with Comcast should allow for a significant level of distribution that will grow over time as the amazing stories and inspiring content that makes up the Olympic dream and the Olympic spirit capture the viewing public. Volleyball and beach volleyball will be just two of so many Olympic sports that will truly benefit from this dedicated and significantly expanded exposure. While there remains much to do before the actual launch date of the network, this is a very exciting day for the Olympic movement in the US with the incredible opportunities the USON presents. Douglas P. Beal, USA Volleyball CEO

“I think it’s awesome. I’m a supporter of anything that furthers the visibility and promotion of our sport.” David Lee, 2008 Olympic gold medal men’s volleyball player

“This Olympic network will finally provide sports like judo an opportunity to be seen, understood and appreciated as an exciting Olympic sport by the American public. Most exciting is the fact that we will be able to broaden the horizons of thousands of young boys and girls as they are exposed to sports like ours. This is a tremendous positive step to furthering the true Olympic spirit to all segments of our population. We thank and congratulate the USOC on this achievement!” Jose H. Rodriguez, USA Judo CEO

“Earlier this year, the response was overwhelmingly positive to the first-ever U.S. Television broadcast of the IHF World Championships. The creation of the US Olympic Network likely means much more handball programming on U.S. airwaves in the years to come. Our sport lends
itself as well to television as virtually any other - so we are pleased that the USOC and Comcast have reached this partnership.” Steve Pastorino, General Manager, USA Team Handball

“The opportunity for USA Team Handball to receive more exposure on the US Olympic Network is really exciting. My grassroots handball program in Colorado Springs was formed after kids here watched handball in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and wanted to play. Now I can tell them their
hard work on the handball court might lead to a chance to showcase themselves to a national audience.” Kathy Rex, 1988 Olympian, Team Handball

“The announcement of a new U.S. Olympic Network is one large step for the entire Olympic family and one giagantic step for sports such as team handball. Many athletes, such as myself, were introduced to our sport just months prior to competing on the international stage. One
can only imagine the success U.S. Team Handball would have if our athletes can learn about the game as kids. I look forward to watching the U.S. Olympic Network. I am sure that I will be watching along with future members of U.S. Team Handball, as their dreams of Olympic glory
begin. I also look froward to watching these athletes go for gold in Chicago 2016.” Yaro Dachniwsky, 1996 Olympian, Team Handball

Darrick Heath
1996 Olympian, Team Handball

On the ability to watch team handball on American television:

“I’ve been waiting for the day I can flip through the channels and find such an exciting sport not only that I love, but have dedicated 18 years of my life to become world class in. To be able to watch team handball on television, that would be a dream come true.”

On the opportunities the USON holds for the sport of team handball:

“The U.S. Olympic Network will be a fantastic opportunity for the sport of team handball to not only show the competition side but to be accessible to people all over the United States. The exposure will help with grassroots efforts and the popularity of the sport. It will assist in the recruitment of potential athletes.”

“It also gives the opportunity for potential sponsors whom have never considered sponsoring team handball to see it and possibly want to get involved.”

On the opportunities the USON holds for the Olympic Movement:

“It will give exposure to the Olympic Games and show how a team prepares for national and international competition, as well on the collegiate and the club level. It gives a whole view on what it takes to get to the final pinnacle, not just a finished product every two and four years. I think that it will be instrumental to actually seeing what it takes to get there.”


“The launch of the U.S. Olympic Network is one of the most exciting and positive developments of the Olympic movement in our country. For far too long, Olympic fans have been deprived of viewing much of the thrilling action of Olympic sports competition between the Games. Simultaneously, many great Olympic athletes have also been deprived of the kind of exposure and attention they have deserved. Soon we will be able to follow our Olympic heroes closely, week in and week out, leading up to the world’s most popular sporting event, the Olympic Games.” Gary W. Hall, M.D., Vice President, United States Olympians

“Everyone rallies every four years to support the U.S. athletes, but sometimes people lose sight of all the hard training and games that get us there. This Olympic Network will be a great chance for the fans to follow the athletes on their journeys to the Olympics Games.” Heather O’Reilly, U.S. Women’s National Team Midfielder and Two-Time Olympian, Soccer

“The Olympic Network will provide a great opportunity for some of the less publicized sports and some women’s sports that don’t generally get a lot of media coverage. I’m sure it will not only add to the build-up to the next Olympics, but also serve to educate the public about some sports and great athletes that they might not know much about. That can be a really special thing for people who love sports and love the Olympics.” Rachel Buehler, U.S. Women’s National Team Defender, Soccer

“The road to Olympic glory often takes thankless years, if not decades. The athletes are helped in their journey when they perceive what they do to be important to the people around them. The new Olympic Network will bring many of these stories into the homes of thousands of emotional and patriotic viewers, and this new and consistent fan base will make the athletes train that much harder. The end result should be more medals for the athletes and more heroes for our country.” John Naber, 1976 Olympian, Swimming and Immediate Past President, US Olympians

“This has been in the works for nearly two years - and has the potential to have significant, long-lasting benefits for team handball! We’re excited and we applaud USOC for this.” Steve Pastorino, USA Team Handball

“Within USA Table Tennis, everyone agrees that broadcast exposure is the missing essential factor in growing our sport within the USA. We are very grateful that the USOC recognizes this needed component within the emerging, lesser developed sports/National Governing Bodies. Anything of lasting value takes time and we now see the light at the end of a long tunnel.” Michael D. Cavanaugh, CEO USA Table Tennis

“Olympic athletes train hard every day, but until now the public really only gets a good look at what we’re all about once every four years. To be able to share the true depth of the Olympic experience with fans on a 24-hour basis – that is huge step for all past, present and future Olympians.” Chad Hedrick, 2006 Olympic speedskater

“It’s definitely a huge benefit for Paralympians and Paralympic sport to get this kind of exposure and coverage here in the U.S. Now that we have a specific network promoting the Olympic & Paralympic movements, as well as the achievements of athletes with physical disabilities people around the country will have the opportunity to see who we are and what we’re capable of accomplishing.” Greta Neimanas (cycling), 2008 U.S. Paralympian

“My three Olympics would not have been possible if it weren’t for the support of the fans. I can still hear the cheers today. As an athlete, knowing that you have your country behind you can make all the difference in the world. Today I am no longer a competitive athlete; I am enthusiastic fan, able to cheer for all my fellow Olympians as they pursue their dreams. The U.S. Olympic Network will give me new opportunities to leave a lasting impact on the next generation of Olympians.” Dominique Dawes, Three-time Olympic gymnast

“The exposure provided by a network dedicated to the Olympic and Paralympic Games is a real boost to athletes. The way I look at it, generations of Olympians and future Olympians will benefit from having their sport covered on a regular basis on TV – sports that may receive minimal coverage during the Games themselves. And for sports like mine, I think it’s great that fans will get even more coverage. It’s a shot in the arm for the Olympic Movement.” Bart Conner, Three-time Olympic gymnast

“I think that the U.S. Olympic Network will educate viewers much better on the various Olympic sports along with bringing support to the Olympic Movement and ideals.” 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Corey Cogdell, Shooting

“The new Olympic TV network will be another opportunity to tell the story of our ski and snowboarding athletes. The network will be a positive complement to our current valuable media partnerships with NBC, Universal Sports, Versus, Go211.com and Fuel TV.” Bill Marolt, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO

“We are very excited about the announcement of the formation of the United States Olympic Network. Comcast is a strong media partner for the USOC and gives instant credibility to this important venture. USA Taekwondo, like many NGBs, has exciting and compelling stories to share with the American public. We have lacked a viable media outlet to tell our stories. The USON will give us an opportunity to showcase the athleticism and beauty of Olympic taekwondo and bring new participants and spectators to the sport. We look forward to the launch next year.” David Askinas, USA Taekwondo Chief Executive Officer

“It is terrific news that the US Olympic Committee has made a commitment to gaining more exposure for Olympic sports like water polo, which have a passionate following but have been largely ignored by traditional broadcasting. We think water polo has the potential to be the next beach volleyball or surfing as a media property, and it is our view that the USOC will ultimately be seen as visionary for shining a spotlight on the day-to-day stories like ours that make up the Olympic movement. In my view the network will also make the Olympic Games themselves an even more valuable property because the Olympiad will now represent the culmination of stories told widely over a four-year span; our entire nation will have a special stake in knowing how each of these dramas end.” Christopher Ramsey, CEO of USA Water Polo

“We are excited to see this important development for the USOC. 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.” Matt Van Houten, Chair of USOC’s Athletes’Advisory Council

“The U.S. Olympic Network will serve as a great conduit for inspiring the next generation of U.S. Olympians. This is a positive step forward for the USOC and for the promotion of the Olympic ideals.” Nina Kemppel, Vice-Chair of the USOC’s Athletes’ Advisory Council

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Keywords · USOC · USON · Comcast

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Organization: USOC
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