The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is considering selling private investors a stake in commercial rights for Team USA as it looks for ways to generate more resources for its mission. The options under review include creating a new company, United States Olympic and Paralympic Ventures (USOPV).
The committee said it is assessing different commercial models and has been speaking with athlete and national governing body leaders. It said any plan would preserve the USOPC’s mission, governance and leadership, as well as its commitment to Team USA athletes.
According to USOPC board minutes, preliminary discussions with potential investment and strategic partners had received encouraging feedback. CEO Sarah Hirschland told Sportico that the organisation was considering all its options when asked about private equity, institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds.
The evaluation comes as the United States prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Games in Utah. The USOPC currently has a commercial partnership with the Los Angeles 2028 organising committee, but that agreement is due to expire after the Games. The committee says Team USA’s commercial rights will return to it after LA28.
Hirschland said the aim of any outside investment would be to grow overall revenue for the athletes and national governing bodies the USOPC serves.
Sources: BBC Sport.