Economic Boost for Team USA Athletes

(ATR) U.S. athletes training for Tokyo 2020 are benefiting from a creative, private fundraising initiative called The Giving Games.

The Giving Games began on July 24 and runs through August 9, the dates that the Tokyo Olympic Games would have been contested.

Considering cancellation of numerous U.S. domestic competitions due to Covid-19, some 27 of 51 National Governing Bodies are in danger of bankruptcy with the one-year postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games, according to Ceil Folz, a Colorado-based consultant who has developed the project along with U.S. NGBs. A coalition of 21 NGBs are participating in the Giving Games campaign.

"We have a tagline that Americans send athletes to the Games, not America, " Folz tells Around the Rings. "Our athletes make it to the Olympics all the time because of Americans, our corporations and individual support.

"The only difference now is that we need more of that because the only other ways they had revenue, they don’t have a chance for that," she said. "We all need to step up a little bit more to help our athletes get there."

U.S. teams and athletes, while assisted financially through United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee corporate partners, are generally required to raise their own monies, whereas athletes from many countries receive direct governmental financial support.

"We really wanted the money to go directly to the NGBs, directly to the athletes, and this is as direct as you can get," says Folz, who was president of the 2015 Beaver Creek/Vail World Alpine Ski Championships organizing committee.

"All together, the NGBs are going to have over a 100 million dollar deficit from their budget this year and they have no way to make that up because they can’t do events."

Various U.S. athletes and para-athletes – approximately 30 in total – have stepped up as ambassadors to support the Giving Games.

"They’ve all been great, but one who has been particularly popular is a boxer Darius Fulghum, who is also a nurse," Folz says. "At this moment, he has been trying to figure out if I’m a boxer going to the Olympics or a nurse helping out with Covid.

"He has been an unbelievable spokesperson – lots of our broadcasters have been going to Darius because he is such an amazing story."

Awareness is also being raised through a fun Facebook personality quiz in which participants learn which Olympic sport they most resemble, while a sweepstakes involving U.S. celebrities is being launched. In the spirit of the Olympic Games, gold, silver and bronze medals are being awarded to the top donors in each sport.

Thus far, USA Equestrian has received the largest individual donation at $10,000, while USA Artistic Swimming has benefited from a $5,040 contribution, followed by USA Canoe & Kayak, which has received a $5,000 gift.

Supporters are also being encouraged to participate in a Giving Games World Record attempt. Over the concluding 24-hour period from August 8-9, contributors will receive special recognition and a certificate for joining the overall team effort.

The Giving Games are entirely independent of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, although the USOPC has declared its support for the campaign.

"The USOPC recognizes the challenges our NGB partners are facing and applauds the efforts of the Giving Games to share their stories and inspire support," said Christine Walshe, USOPC development director.

Folz hasn’t lost sight that it is hard times for many Americans who may be struggling financially due to the pandemic, however she believes sports and the Olympic Games can be inspiring in light of the current hardship.

"I think we see and understand the value that sports has in society – it is the thing that brings us together. I believe it was Nelson Mandela who said ‘sports is the thing that will bring us together’.

"When we come out of this, and we will come out of this, for us we need to have the Olympics. If we don’t give them our help now, in a year from now, there won’t be that many marching in the ‘Parade of Nations’.

"These are kids who have given their whole lives for this chance and I think we all embrace that and want to support that as well."

Homepage photo: CFC

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli

Follow Brian on Twitter - @Brian_Pinelli

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