The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has launched a new campaign to support the nation’s Olympic and Paralympics athletes including a crowd-funding website for donating gifts to the squad.

The United States Olympic and Paralympic Foundation (USOPF) project, the Team USA Registry, invites fans to buy meaningful presents, such as a pair of goggles, running shoes, a boccia ball set, childcare services or plane tickets for travelling to a competition, to help offset the more than $40,000 (£26,000/€37,000) training costs for each athlete.

“Unlike most National Olympic Committees, the US Olympic Committee receives no Government funding, and we’re being outspent by our competitors at an increasing rate,” said Jon Denney, USOPF President and USOC chief development officer.

“Team USA relies on the ‘Team Behind the Team,’ - generous donors and sponsors - to help US athletes remain competitive with the rest of the world.

“The Team USA Registry offers donors a new and unique way to join Team USA on the Road to Rio.”

The TeamUSARegistry.org website means fans will have the option to shop by category, sport or amount of money they wish to spend on the athletes.

Users will also have the option to donate a gift on behalf of another person and fans will receive a shareable social media badge of acknowledgement for backing Team USA after making a donation.

Swimmer Natalie Coughlin, a 12-time Olympic medallist and former world champion, spoke of the importance of supporting the nation’s athletes, particularly ahead of Rio 2016.

“To a US Olympic or Paralympic athlete, ‘training’ requires specialised equipment, world-class coaching, sports medicine, travel expenses and nutrition services,” she said.

“This support is more important today than ever, as there are athletes who have the potential, but not the means, to achieve their Olympic and Paralympic dreams.”

To donate click here.

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The British Olympic Association (BOA) have announced an eight-year renewal with leading sportswear brand Adidas, which will see their partnership continue up to and including the 2024 Olympic Games.

The sponsorship and licensing deal continues the BOA’s longest running domestic partnership, with the sportswear brand having produced kit for the British team since Los Angeles 1984.

“Adidas have shown over many years what an incredible track record they have in creating high-performance product for Team GB across multiple Olympic sports and we are proud to be extending our close relationship with them through to 2024 – a partnership of 40 years,” said Bill Sweeney, the BOA Chief Executive.

“This eight year deal reinforces the long-term value of the Team GB brand and represents a significant step forward in our post-London 2012 commercial programme.”

With the Rio 2016 less than 500 days away, the new deal will see Adidas continue as the Official Sportswear Partner for Team GB, providing kit for competition across across all 35 Summer and Winter Olympic sports.

In addition the sportswear brand will provide  non-competition wear for athletes during the Games, as well as various international festivals and Games where Team GB are represented.

“Adidas are excited to announce the extension of our partnership with the BOA through to 2024,” said Barry Moore, Adidas UK brand director.

“We look forward to providing high-performance, innovative apparel and footwear to the British athletes as they compete on the biggest sporting stages.”

Adidas will continue to produce replica and official apparel, accessories and footwear, in their role as Official Team GB Licensee,

“The BOA is incredibly proud to have such a long standing partnership with adidas,” Sebastian Coe, the BOA chairman, said.

“To have them as part of Team GB looking ahead to PyeongChang 2018, Tokyo 2020 and beyond is vital for our continued Olympic sporting success.

“Los Angeles ‘84 holds such fond memories for me as an athlete and knowing that Adidas have been with Team GB on the journey since those Games shows the strength of the relationship between our two organisations.”

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Scotland’s Louise Martin says that the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Evaluation Commission are “Ready to be Inspired” by Durban’s bid for the 2022 Games, as they begin a four-day visit of the South African city.

Martin will chair the five-strong Commission, who are set to meet with Government and city partners who will help with the delivery of the Games, while they will also take in several competition and non-competition venues and facilities.

“As a Commonwealth Sports Movement, we cannot fail to be excited by the prospect of a first Commonwealth Games in Africa, and warmly welcome Durban and South Africa’s bid and congratulate the Durban Bid Team and their local and national partners for all the hard work they have put in so far,” said Martin, who previously chaired the successful bid for Glasgow’s hosting of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“This Evaluation Commission, however, has a very important job to do - to analyse and gain a deeper understanding of the technical aspects of the bid and hear first-hand the plans and strategies that will be put in place to deliver an inspiring and inclusive Games for everyone in seven years time.

“To borrow the bid team’s slogan, we are ready to be inspired.”

CGF chief executive David Grevemberg, who formerly held the same post at Glasgow 2014 will also be part of the Commission, alongside Andrew Ryan, executive director of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and a former Glasgow 2014 and current Gold Coast 2018 Coordination Commission member.

The experienced panel is completed by Ian Hooper, director of sport and special projects at Glasgow Life and Maxwell de Silva, secretary general of the Sri Lankan Commonwealth Games Association and National Olympic Committee.

Tubby Reddy, the Durban 2022 Bid Committee chief executive, predicted the Evaluation Commission will be impressed during their stay in the port city.

“There is no doubt that we have put up a quality bid which will far exceed the expectations of the CGF,” Reddy said.

“We have been meticulous and sensitive to all the demands from the City as well as from the CGF, and we believe that Durban has produced a world-class bid.

“Our belief in bringing the Games to Africa remains firm and very optimistic.”

The Commission will prepare a Bid Evaluation Report, following the visit to the sole bidder for the 2022 Games after Edmonton in Canada withdrew from the race, with the report set to be presented to CGF members no later than a month before the CGF General Assembly is due to take place in Auckland on September 2.

Durban’s bid is due to be voted on by the Commonwealth’s 71 nations and territories at the Assembly, while a vote will also be held to decide the CGF President, with Martin aiming to replace current incumbent Prince Imran of Malaysia, who is seeking a second term.

Mark Alexander, chairman of the Durban 2022 Commonwealth Games Bid Committee believes that Durban will be able to highlight its capability to host the Games to the Commission throughout their visit.

“This is an another important step towards bringing the Games to Durban and a very significant milestone in the Bid process which, we believe, will go a long way in convincing the CGF assessment team that the City is ready and that we are able to meet our commitments that we presented to the CGF in London in March 2015,” Alexander said.

“We are confident that the City’s Bid team is fully prepared for the Evaluation Commission’s visit and that Durban will be the host city for the Commonwealth Games in 2022.”

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