COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The United States Olympic Committee today announced NBC, broadcast home of the Olympic Games through 2012, will serve as the network host for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Presented by Allstate. The made-for-television event will be recorded June 19 during an awards ceremony at the Harris Theater in Chicago, Ill., and will be aired Sunday, August 3, 2008 on NBC from 1:30pm to 3:00pm ET.
As part of the broadcast coverage, viewers will be treated to competition footage as well as insights from friends and competitors of the honored legends who will be inducted into the exclusive group of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic greats.
"Having the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame broadcast again on NBC continues what we believe to be an excellent platform to recognize the great accomplishments of some of America's most recognized sports heroes," said USOC Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr . "With the Beijing Olympic Games just days after the 2008 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame broadcast airing, this summer's Olympic-oriented programming will be some of the most watched in history."
Longtime sports journalist Jim Lampley will again serve as the master of ceremonies for the induction. Lampley is a stalwart in the Olympic Movement's broadcast circles, and the Beijing Games will mark his 14th Olympic Games assignment.
The 2008 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class includes another great group of American heroes. Wrestler Bruce Baumgartner, marathon athlete Joan Benoit Samuelson, figure skater Brian Boitano, volleyball player Karch Kiraly, boxer Oscar De La Hoya, equestrian J. Michael Plumb, basketball player David Robinson, swimmer Amy Van Dyken, shooter Lones W. Wigger, Jr. and Paralympic swimmer John Morgan will be inducted as individuals. Figure skating coach Carlo Fassi will be inducted posthumously in the Coach category, and Olympic figure skating gold medalist Carol Heiss Jenkins will be inducted in the Veteran category. The members of the 1996 Women's Gymnastics Team - Amanda Borden, Amy Chow, Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, Jaycie Phelps and Kerri Strug - will be honored in the Team category, while legendary Hollywood producer Frank Marshall will be recognized as the Special Contributor.
The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame was established in 1979 to celebrate the achievements of America's premier athletes in the modern Olympic Games. The first U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame class was inducted in 1983 during ceremonies in Chicago. That Charter Class, which included Olympic greats Jesse Owens, Jim Thorpe and Muhammad Ali, remains the largest group (20 individuals and one team) ever inducted. In 2004, after a 12-year hiatus, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame was revived through the support of Allstate Insurance Company as the presenting sponsor. This year, Allstate is again the presenting sponsor for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, with second-year associate sponsors Kleenex and AT&T. With the addition of the Class of 2008, 213 athletes (including seven U.S. teams), two coaches, and 13 special contributors to the U.S. Olympic Movement have been enshrined in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
Olympic Movement fans wishing to attend the 2008 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Presented by Allstate can purchase tickets on the USOC's official Web site www.teamusa.org. Media interested in attending the event are required to submit a credential request for the pre-event (Red Carpet) interviews and photos. Additionally, media must indicate any desire to attend the formal induction ceremony. Please contact Sam Kilgore at (office) 719-866-3503 or (e-mail) [email protected] to request a media credential.
About Allstate:
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,900 exclusive agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. Encompass® and Deerbrook® Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.