Nominees Announced for 2009 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, Presented by Allstate
April 16 2009 - 3:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Hall of Fame Induction ceremony to support Chicago bid for 2016
Olympic and Paralympic Games NORTHBROOK, Ill., April 16
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The United States Olympic Committee
(USOC) and Allstate Insurance Company (NYSE:ALL) today announced
the finalists for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2009 at a
press event at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. The star-studded
nominee list of 15 individuals, five teams and five Paralympians
includes Olympic legends such as Teresa Edwards, Gary Hall, Sr.,
Michael Johnson, Picabo Street, the 1992 Men's Olympic Basketball
Team, and more. The finalists were unveiled today at an event
headlined by Allstate chairman, president and chief executive
officer, Tom Wilson, along with USOC acting CEO Stephanie Streeter,
Chicago 2016 chairman and CEO Patrick Ryan, and U.S. Olympic Hall
of Fame member John Naber. "The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
celebrates our honorees' commitment to excellence and recognizes
Americans who are role models and heroes," Wilson said. "Each of us
can find strength, passion and inspiration in these ordinary people
who achieved extraordinary success in the Olympics. They help make
us proud to be Americans." From now through June 16, fans can cast
their votes for the 2009 class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
online at http://www.teamusa.org/. The inducted class will include
five individuals, one team and one Paralympian, as well as three
additional individuals: a coach, veteran and special contributor.
The inductees will be revealed in early July and will be honored at
a black-tie induction ceremony on August 12 at McCormick Place in
Chicago. The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate is the
only national sports Hall of Fame that includes fan voting. "The
U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame honors Olympic and Paralympic legends who
have inspired our country for generations, uniting us behind Team
USA and giving us role models who epitomize the Olympic ideals,"
Streeter said. "Allstate's generous support of the U.S. Olympic
Hall of Fame and dedication to celebrating the accomplishments of
America's Olympic and Paralympic greats further illustrates their
commitment to the Olympic Movement and America's athletes." The
August 12 induction ceremony will honor the 2009 U.S. Olympic Hall
of Fame class and introduce a new international award - the Olive
Branch Award - given to an individual or individuals who best
represent the international ideals of the Olympic Games by working
to build a peaceful and better world through sport. Also new to
2009, the induction ceremony will feature a special fundraising
banquet to benefit Chicago 2016, Chicago's bid to host the 2016
Olympic and Paralympic Games. "We are very excited for the U.S.
Olympic Hall of Fame, presented by Allstate, to return to Chicago
for the fourth time," Ryan said. "Chicago is a city that truly
embraces the Olympic Movement, and to have a Chicago company like
Allstate involved in celebrating historic Olympic and Paralympic
achievements showcases the broad support our city has for the
movement." Nominees for the induction class of 2009 were selected
by a 10-person nominating committee consisting of athletes, members
of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, historians, and USOC
representatives. Fans can vote by visiting http://www.teamusa.org/.
The nominees are: INDIVIDUALS Greg Barton, canoe/kayak Jeff
Blatnick, wrestling Valerie Brisco-Hooks, athletics Tracie
Ruiz-Conforto, swimming Teresa Edwards, basketball Gary Hall, Sr.,
swimming Michael Johnson, athletics Mary T. Meagher, swimming
Sheila Young Ochowicz, speedskating Darrell Pace, archery Terry
Schroeder, water polo John Smith, wrestling Picabo Street, alpine
skiing Peter Westbrook, fencing Willye White, athletics
PARALYMPIANS Jean Driscoll, athletics David Larson, athletics Greg
Mannino, alpine skiing Tony Volpentest, athletics Sarah Will,
alpine skiing TEAMS 1976 U.S. Women's 4x100 Freestyle Relay Team
1992 U.S. Men's Basketball Team 1996 U.S. Synchronized Swimming
Team 1998 U.S. Women's Ice Hockey Team 2002 U.S. Women's Bobsled
Team For more information on the 2009 nominees, including bios and
photos, and a comprehensive list of existing U.S. Olympic Hall of
Fame members, please visit http://www.teamusa.org/. About the U.S.
Olympic Hall of Fame The charter class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of
Fame was enshrined in 1983, with such Olympic legends as Cassius
Clay, Peggy Fleming, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Mark Spitz, and
the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey Team. Annual
additions continued through 1992, adding Olympic legends such as
Bart Conner, Dorothy Hamill, "Sugar Ray" Leonard, Carl Lewis, Greg
Louganis, and Mary Lou Retton. In becoming the presenting sponsor,
Allstate sparked the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame's revitalization in
2004. During the company's five-year tenure as a partner, the Hall
of Fame has inducted numerous decorated Olympic athletes including:
Bonnie Blair, Janet Evans, Florence Griffith Joyner, Dan Jansen,
Kristi Yamaguchi, and the 1996 "Magnificent Seven" U.S. Women's
Gymnastics Team. Following last June's induction of the Class of
2008, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame currently consists of 213
Distinguished Athletes and 13 special contributors. 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(R)" slogan, Allstate is
reinventing protection and retirement to help individuals in
approximately 17 million households protect what they have today
and better prepare for tomorrow. Customers can access Allstate
products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners
insurance through approximately 14,700 exclusive Allstate agencies
and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, or in select
states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate(R). Encompass(R)
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
brokerdealers. Customers can also access information about Allstate
Financial Group products and services at myallstatefinancial.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. About Chicago 2016 Chicago 2016 is a
501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to seek the privilege of
hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago. The
committee's board consists of business, civic, athletic, cultural
and academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding
Midwest region. Patrick Ryan serves as the organization's chairman
and CEO. DATASOURCE: Allstate Insurance Company CONTACT: Raleigh
Floyd of The Allstate Corporation, +1-847-402-5600; or Bates
Grainger of Taylor, +1-704-548-8556, for The Allstate Corporation;
or Nicole Saunches of USOC, +1-719-866-2236 Web Site:
http://www.allstate.com/ http://www.teamusa.org/
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