BP Named Official Partner of U.S. Olympic Committee, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) proudly announced today that BP, the global energy firm, has joined its family of sponsors as the official USOC energy partner.

BP will be a sponsor of the 2010 and 2012 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, as well as the 2011 U.S. Pan American Team.

“Today marks a big win for the USOC. We are extremely proud and appreciative to welcome BP to our growing family of U.S. Olympic Partners,” USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said. “The Olympic and Paralympic Games are the ultimate showcase of human endeavor and performance and we are thrilled to partner with an organization that has high performance at its heart.”
BP America Chairman and President Lamar Mckay said, “We look forward to partnering with America’s Olympic and Paralympic teams to engage with the millions of customers we serve each day, as well as our own employees. As the largest contributor to US energy development including oil, gas, biofuels, wind, solar and energy efficiency, we are pleased to support Team USA and the USOC.”

BP Group Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Luc Bardin, added, “BP is committed to providing the energy the US needs through a broad and diverse energy mix. The USOC is committed to more sustainable behaviors and practices. Together, we believe we can improve our energy efficiency programs and provide opportunities for athletes and fellow Americans to do it with us. As a first step, the USOC will operate its car fleet at zero carbon by using BP’s targetneutral program. Through multiple joint activities, our partnership will allow us to demonstrate how BP is a company that operates at the frontier and makes a difference.”
Along with BP’s sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, the company will be the presenting Partner of a Washington D.C. reception honoring Team USA after their return from both the 2010 and 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

USOC Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Baird said, “BP’s support will help provide U.S. athletes with the direct and indirect funding they need to pursue their Olympic and Paralympic dreams, and to represent the United States on the world’s biggest stage. We thank BP for its allegiance to America’s athletes, the USOC and the Olympic movement.”

About BP
BP is one of the world’s largest energy companies with operations in more than 100 countries across six continents. The company’s main businesses are exploration and production of oil and gas; refining, manufacturing and marketing of oil products and petrochemicals; transportation and marketing of natural gas; and a growing business in renewable and low-carbon power and next generation energy technologies.

BP is the official oil and gas partner for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and a supporter of the British Olympic Association (BOA) and British Paralympic Association (BPA).

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.