Athlete Support Progams

2008 - 2009 ATHLETE SUPPORT PROGRAMS
Information Sheet

Below is an outline of the USOC Athlete Support Program.  A brief explanation of the programs along with criteria information is provided.  If you need more specific information about any of these programs, please contact your NGB or USOC Sport Partnership team at:  1-800-933-4473, ext. 2.

The athlete support programs include:

Elite Athlete Health Insurance (EAHI)
Each NGB receives, from the USOC, EAHI slots to distribute to elite athletes.  Distribution of these EAHI slots is based on criteria that have been developed by the NGB and approved by the USOC.  If you have questions regarding the EAHI distribution criteria, please contact your NGB.

Direct Athlete Support 
Athletes who have demonstrated competitive excellence in important international competitions may be awarded Direct Athlete Support dollars, which includes Tuition Grants (see below).  The Sport Partnership Team will work closely with the NGB in designing an athlete support program that determines how these dollars are allocated.  If you have questions regarding the allocation criteria, please contact your NGB.

Tuition Grants
Tuition grants are intended to help defray a portion of an athlete's tuition costs, and in doing so, encourage athletes to further their formal education in preparation for lifelong career goals.  There is approximately $70,000 (annually) dedicated to this program.  Grant amounts range from less than $500 to a maximum of $5000 depending on athlete performance history and availability of funds for the grant. Only one tuition grant per year may be awarded.  Due dates for applications are: February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1.  Athletes must be a current year Direct Athlete Support recipient and/or eligible for EAHI before they can apply for a Tuition Grant, and must have their NGB's endorsement.  There are some exceptions:

• Athletes in residency at one of the OTC's must apply for the B.J. Stupak Olympic Scholarship Program prior to applying for a Tuition Grant through Sport Partnerships (see below).
• Retired Olympic and Pan American team members may apply for one-time only tuition assistance, within five years of their last Olympic or Pan American Games competition.  Retired athletes applying for these funds must be endorsed by their NGB.
• Athletes training and going to school in the state of Utah or athletes who competed in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games should apply for the USOC 2002 Olympic Winter Games Legacy Scholarship program (see below).

B.J. Stupak Olympic Scholarship Program 
The B.J. Stupak Olympic Scholarship Program (OSP) is a federally funded grant program (not a USOC program) designed to provide financial assistance to a select group of Olympic-aspiring student athletes.  Any resident who is approved by their NGB and the USOC to live and train at one of the Olympic training centers in Colorado Springs, Lake Placid, and Chula Vista or the Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University may be eligible.  Eligible student athletes must be pursuing an education at a Title IV eligible post-secondary institution, and they must meet all rules regarding eligibility for federal financial aid as defined by the institution they attend.  They must also be at least one-half time students.

The OSP is an avenue for USOC OTC resident student athletes to pursue receiving funds for educational fees as well as a pre-set amount to help offset some training expenses.  OSP funds are significant, and, as such, the USOC requires that all USOC OTC resident athletes apply for OSP funds prior to submitting a USOC tuition grant application.

The OSP application will be made available to all athletes accepted as resident athletes at one of the USOC's Olympic Training Centers.  Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms must be completed and are due by October 13.  Stupak applications are due once a student-athlete is accepted to school and the FAFSA application is complete.  Please contact your OTC administrator for forms and more information.  

USOC 2002 Olympic Winter Games Legacy Scholarship
The USOC 2002 Olympic Winter Games Legacy Scholarship is available for summer and winter athletes training, residing, and attending school in the state of Utah.  Also eligible for this scholarship are 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Alumni, attending school in any location.   

Scholarship applications for the USOC 2002 Olympic Winter Games Legacy Scholarship are due May 1 and November 1 and awards can be retroactive and applied to the previously completed semester. Please contact your Sport Partnership Team for an application.

The William E. Simon Olympic Trust for the Support of Athletes (Simon Grant)
The Simon Grant was established by William E. Simon, Jr., former USOC president and U.S. Treasury Secretary, to aid competitive athletes who may not have qualified for other USOC support.  The grants are primarily based on need.   Please contact your Sport Partnership Team for more information.

Operation Gold
Operation Gold Awards are designed to reward athletes for top-place finishes in a sport's most competitive international competition of the year.  The award amount varies from $1,000 to $25,000 depending on the year, the athlete's place and/or finish at the Operation Gold competition and whether the athlete competes in a sport/discipline/event on the Olympic Games program or on the Pan American Games program.  Team Sports (defined as three or more athletes) receive funding for 1-6 place finishes in non-Olympic years, while Individual Sports (defined as one or two athletes) receive funding for 1-8 place finishes in non-Olympic years. 

If the Operation Gold qualifying competition is something other than the Olympic Games, Pan American Games (for Pan American-only sports/events) or World Championships, the world's top 10 countries (according to international federation rankings/ratings) must be in the competition pool. If less than the world's top 10 countries are present, eligibility for Operation Gold Awards is conditional and a different payment schedule will be used.  Please contact your Sport Partnership team for further details. 

Additionally, in non-Olympic years, athletes who qualify for more than one award automatically receive the higher award.  At the Olympic Games, athletes will be paid Operation Gold for multiple medal performances.  The Operation Gold Payment schedule is as follows:

* = In the Olympic year athletes are eligible for multiple medals won.