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U.S. Olympic Committee Selects San José, Calif., and San José State University for Team Processing Site for U.S. Olympic Team
San José, Calif., June 12, 2007 —The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) announced today that San José State University (SJSU) and the City of San José have been selected as the site for U.S. Olympic Team processing for the 2008 Games in Beijing. The USOC made the announcement at the university during a joint press conference with SJSU, the City of San José and the San José Sports Authority.
More than 600 U.S. Olympic Team members, coaches and officials will gather by teams at the university during late July and early August 2008 for two-day stays. Athletes will participate in team briefings, apparel distribution, medical screenings and training before departing for Beijing, where one of the most important Olympic Games in recent history will be held Aug. 8-24, 2008.
“Going through team processing is a significant, special moment in the life of an Olympian,” said Jim Scherr, USOC Chief Executive Officer, an Olympic wrestler who competed in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. “We are excited to come to San José, and from here, to prepare and send our Olympic Team to Beijing. San José and San José State have a rich Olympic heritage and have long been supportive of America’s Olympic movement. Because of this, along with the university’s excellent location and facilities, the USOC is pleased to select San José State for our 2008 team processing.”
“I am very pleased San José State will play an important role with the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team,” said SJSU President Don W. Kassing. “The university has a long history of fostering Olympians in many sports, making us especially proud to assist next year’s U.S. team with final preparations for Beijing.”
Most U.S. Olympic athletes will fly into Mineta San José International Airport or San Francisco International Airport and be transported by bus to the university. Their first day will consist of receiving U.S. Olympic Team apparel, produced by Official Sponsors Nike and Roots; being sized for commemorative U.S. Olympic Team rings; taking individual and team photos; and undergoing medical screening.
After an overnight stay in university housing, athletes will undergo a team briefing that will include important logistical information related to the Beijing Games, including information on the Athletes’ Village, training schedules and event ticket procedures. After the briefing, athletes will depart for Beijing. Some teams will train at San José State for as many as five days before leaving for China.
“San José is proud to have been chosen as the city from which America’s athletes will depart for the 2008 Beijing Olympics,” said San José Mayor Chuck Reed. “The selection reflects both our city’s historic support of Olympic sports and our cultural and economic ties to the Pacific Rim.”
“Today's announcement marks another milestone in a very successful relationship, which the San Jose Sports Authority began developing with the U.S. Olympic Committee 16 years ago,” said Patricia Ernstrom, acting executive director of the Sports Authority. “We are proud to stand with our partners at San José State and the City of San José. Together, we have established San José as a strong supporter of the Olympic Movement and a frequent host of Olympic sports events including national championships and Olympic Trials.”
San José and San José State University have hosted a variety of events in the Olympic Movement including the Titan Games in 2003 and various national and international sports competitions in Olympic sports throughout the years. San José was the site of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Rhythmic Gymnastics and Trampoline, and Judo and Taekwondo – both held in the San José State Event Center – for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. HP Pavilion at San José and the McEnery Convention Center will be the site of the Visa Championships in August, the national championships of USA Gymnastics and a preview of next year’s U.S. gymnastics team.
Past team processing sites include Tampa, Fla., and the University of Tampa in 1992; Atlanta, Ga., in 1996; San Diego, Calif., in 2000; and the American College of Greece in Athensbefore the 2004 Games.
(For more information, please contact USOC Communications (719) 866-4529, San José State University Media Relations Specialist Pat Lopes Harris at (408) 924-1748 or San Jose Sports Authority Communications Director Jody Meacham at (408) 288-2930. This press release is also available on the USOC media site http://usocpressbox.org.)
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