NIKE announces it will extend its relationship with the U.S. Olympic Committee as an Official Outfitter of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams through the London 2012 Olympic Games.

As an Official Outfitter, Nike is honored to provide U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes with the Medal Stand uniform worn on the awards podium and during medals ceremonies at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The USOC and Nike will introduce the Medal Stand look for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at a reception for media at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit in Chicago on Tuesday, April 15.

“The Olympic movement is at the core of Nike’s DNA and has played a vital role in our company’s rich history,” said Joaquin Hidalgo, Vice President of Global Marketing for Nike. “We are proud to be able to support the accomplishments of U.S. Olympians through our partnership with the USOC.”

“We are proud to have Nike, a company that embodies the Olympic spirit of quality, excellence and determination, as our committed partner,” said U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr. “Nike’s ability to deliver ground-breaking apparel and footwear with cutting edge technology has been instrumental in our efforts to support America’s Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls.”

Nike was born in an Olympic year, 1972, and has supported the Olympic movement by providing athletes with innovative performance footwear, apparel and equipment ever since Steve Prefontaine took to the track that year at the Munich Olympic Games.

Nike first became an Official Sponsor and Licensee of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams in 2005, as athletes and organizers were preparing for the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

Nike will outfit U.S. athletes competing in nearly every sport at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games with superior, lightweight performance footwear, apparel and equipment including the official uniforms for U.S. National Governing Bodies: USA Archery, USA Basketball, USA Boxing, USA Canoe/Kayak, USA Cycling, U.S. Modern Pentathlon, U.S. Rowing, U.S. Soccer Federation, USA Softball, U.S. Team Handball Federation, and USA Track & Field.

About Nike

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan Holdings Incorporated, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.

About the USOC

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games.

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