The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has undergone a rebrand ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics which will see the committee now include the Paralympic movement.
As part of the rebrand, the committee will now be known as the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), effective immediately, after the proposal gained a unanimous thumbs up from its board of directors.
“The decision to change the organisation’s name represents a continuation of our long-standing commitment to create an inclusive environment for Team USA athletes,” said USOPC chief executive Sarah Hirshland.
“Paralympic athletes are integral to the makeup of Team USA, and our mission to inspire current and future generations of Americans. The new name represents a renewed commitment to that mission and the ideals that we seek to advance, both here at home and throughout the worldwide Olympic and Paralympic movements.”
Physical signage across the organisation’s headquarters and training centres in Colorado Springs will also be updated, as well as other properties, with the aim of completion by 2020.
“This is a historic moment for the Paralympic movement in the United States,” added Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee. “To see the USOPC make this inclusive statement by changing its name demonstrates the true parallel nature of the Olympic and Paralympic movements.
“This change lays a strong foundation to transform the Paralympic movement as we look toward the Los Angeles Games in 2028 and beyond.”
The move is the latest demonstration of support for the Paralympic athletes, after the USOPC voted in favor of boosting financial awards of medal-winning US Paralympic athletes to match those of US Olympians.
