Dick’s goes for gold in Olympic deal

Free stuff and flexible employment opportunities for athletes are key elements of Dick’s Sporting Goods first ever partnership with the U.S. Olympic Committee.

The 2016 Summer Games will be held in Brazil in 2016 and to help athletes prepare Dick’s said it would offer jobs and equipment donations at U.S. Olympic training centers.

"At Dick’s we believe in the spirit of athletes and the power of their dreams," said Lauren Hobart, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Dick’s. "We plan to be there to support the athletes who need it most, in a way that no other sporting goods retailer possibly can."

Dick’s plans to offer sponsorships and sporting goods equipment from its stores to several Team USA athletes. In addition, under a program the “DICK'S Team USA Store Ambassador Program,” the company said it will provide U.S. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls with flexible work opportunities to accommodate training schedule.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dick’s Sporting Goods to our great family of USOC partners," said Lisa Baird, USOC chief marketing officer. "Dick’s support of Team USA athletes, including opportunities for employment in the communities where they live and train, opens up new pathways for America's elite athletes to achieve their dream of competing on the biggest stage in sport."

Three-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, four-time U.S. Olympic medalist Summer Sanders and U.S. Paralympic world record holder Lex Gillette were on-hand at the retailer's corporate headquarters on Feb. 10 for the partnership announcement.

"It's great to be here today to help announce this new partnership," said Jennings. "I was a U.S. Olympic hopeful at one point. A lot of people helped me on my quest to make Team USA, and DICK'S will be a huge help to these athletes."