SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Picabo Street, Shannon Bahrke,
Todd Eldredge, Jim Shea, Chris Klug and Apolo Anton Ohno are some of the
athletes who have been nominated to date for the U.S. Olympic Spirit Award.
At a press conference yesterday at the Utah! Media Center, Brian Boitano,
Olympic gold medalist and co-chair of the U.S. Olympic Spirit Award selection
committee, announced that 16 athletes have been nominated to date and
encouraged the public to get on-line and nominate other athletes they feel
deserve the award. Also on hand for the announcement were alumni Olympian
members of the selection committee and executives of Nu Skin, the award
sponsor.
Boitano expressed the importance of the award from an athlete's
perspective. "This award recognizes what the Olympics is really all about,
what the athletes have gone through to get here, not just the medals."
One male and one female American athlete will be chosen to receive the
U.S. Olympic Spirit Award from both the Olympics and Paralymics. Nu Skin, the
official Olympic Spirit Award sponsor, will donate $5,000 in each winner's
name to the Olympians for Olympians Relief Fund. Rudy Giuliani, the honorary
co-chair of the selection committee, will present the award to the winning
athletes in New York in the days following the close of the Games.
The Olympic Spirit Award is awarded to American athletes who have
demonstrated the special spirit of Olympism, courage and achievement in the
Olympic Games. The selection committee will look at characteristics such as
perseverance, commitment, courage and vision when determining the award
winners.
Nu Skin, the 2002 U.S. Olympic Spirit Award sponsor says they are
supporting the award because its values closely parallel those of Nu Skin.
"We want to measure our success by more than impressive sales figures and
statistics, we want to judge ourselves on what we helped leave behind," says
Sandie Tillotson, Senior Vice President of Nu Skin.
Laura Wilkinson, gold medal winner in diving and Rulon Gardner, gold medal
winner in wrestling were the Olympic Spirit Award winners of the 2000 Olympic
Games. "I am overwhelmed by the honor of receiving an award that lists my
name with past winners who have served as role models throughout my life,"
said Laura Wilkinson.
Nominations for the U.S. Olympic Spirit Award will be accepted through the
final event of the Games at http://www.usolympicteam.com or http://www.nuskin.com , by
calling (800) 337-0771 or by hand-written ballot at select Marriott hotels and
Olympic venues.
SOURCE USOC
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Related links:
http://www.usolympicteam.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/119638.html
CONTACT:
media, Cheryl Herbert, Director of PR of
USOC, +1-719-330-4053; or Dana Helgren or Lindsey Ferrari, of
Wilkinson Ferrari & Varela, +1-801-364-0088, for Nu Skin
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