FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 27th, 2016
“GOLD MAP” LAUNCHES TO PROMOTE YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN OLYMPIC SUMMER SPORTS DURING RIO GAMES
NBC Olympics, United States Olympic Committee, and National Governing Bodies Unveil Television and Digital Initiative Today
T.V. to NBCOlympics.com/GoldMap to NGB Website to Local Participation
STAMFORD, Conn. – April 27, 2016 – NBC Olympics, the United States Olympic Committee, and the U.S. summer sport national governing bodies (NGBs) today launched Gold Map® to promote youth participation in Olympic summer sports by leveraging the excitement that will be generated in the lead-up to and during the Rio Olympics this August.
Gold Map leads young viewers on a journey that begins on their television sets and ends with their participation in an Olympic sport in their local area. During its upcoming coverage of the U.S. Olympic Trials and Summer Games, NBC Olympics will integrate a series of short promotional features that drives interested viewers to NBCOlympics.com/GoldMap, the Gold Map homepage that hosts an overview video and provides links to the websites of U.S. summer sport NGBs. At the NGB website, viewers can find out how they can participate locally in the sport they were watching.
“There’s no better way to get kids active in a sport than to capitalize on the moment of inspiration that occurs when watching the Olympic Games,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “And when inspiration strikes, Gold Map is there to provide the path to the playing field, gymnasium or court. Our first attempt during Sochi helped connect thousands of kids with winter sports organizations in their local communities, and we’re even more optimistic heading into Rio as we’ve had the ability to hone the program for more than two years.”
“After a successful launch of Gold Map during the Sochi Games, we’re extremely pleased to continue partnering with NBC and our national governing bodies to further expand the reach of this important program,” said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. “Youth sport is the cornerstone to Team USA’s success, and we look forward to seeing increased participation as a result of this initiative.”
Gold Map was originally launched prior to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, which took place in Sochi, Russia. The feedback from youth participants and the NGBs was overwhelmingly favorable. Track and field Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix shared details of the program with Matt Lauer on TODAY. You can watch the clip here.
The Olympics begin Friday, August 5, on the networks of NBCUniversal. For a complete schedule of the ongoing U.S. Olympic Trials, click here.
Gold Map is a registered trademark of NBC Olympics LLC.
ABOUT NBC OLYMPICS
A division of the NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage. It is renowned for its unsurpassed Olympic heritage, award-winning production, and ability to aggregate the largest audiences in U.S. television history. For more information on NBC Olympics’ coverage of the Rio Olympics, please visit: http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/
–NBC OLYMPICS–
