DHL Extends Deadline For Submission Of U.S. Olympic Spirit Cards To Be Shipped To Athletes In Torino

PLANTATION, FL -- December 15, 2005, Thousands of Children Have Participated in National Program Celebrating the Spirit of the 2006 U.S Olympic and Paralympic Teams Competing in Torino, Italy

DHL, the world’s leading express delivery and logistics company and the Official Express Delivery and Logistics Provider of the 2006 United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams, announced today the extension of the deadline for submission of “Spirit Cards” for Team USA athletes, part of the DHL U.S. Olympic Spirit Cards Contest which ends on Friday, December 16. Due to the overwhelming response from participating schools and children across the country, DHL is now welcoming “Spirit Card” submissions through January 13, 2006, enabling more U.S. children to send their heartfelt thoughts and messages of support for the 2006 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams.

The DHL U.S. Olympic Spirit Cards program is part of a nationwide effort to encourage millions of young Americans to learn about Olympic Spirit and to share their creative vision on the meaning of Olympic Spirit. The program has helped educate school children (ages 8-12) about the ideals and lessons of the Olympic Spirit, including inspiration, perseverance, vision and joy in effort. The DHL U.S. Olympic Spirit Cards program allows young Americans to provide support to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, while also building their interest and excitement in the Olympic Movement and the 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

As part of the program, children from 11 schools across the country have been part of special school visits by members of Team DHL -- Olympic and Paralympic athletes Vonetta Flowers, Scott Hamilton, Dan Jansen, Chris Klug and Sarah Will -- who have served as ambassadors for the DHL U.S. Olympic Spirit Cards Contest. Team DHL members met with students to discuss the ideals of the Olympic Spirit and provide their own inspirational stories of overcoming challenges to achieve goals. The athletes also joined the children as they worked on their “Spirit Cards,” encouraging the students’ creativity.

“It has been amazing for me to witness the excitement generated by DHL’s U.S. Olympic Spirit Cards Contest,” said Olympic Snowboarder and Team DHL member Chris Klug. “Every school visit has shown me how important it is to teach kids about the Olympic Spirit. I’m really thrilled to be part of this wonderful program. Children across the U.S. are receiving valuable lessons and the athletes will gain tremendous motivation from the support of these kids.”

To participate in the program, children are invited to create a “Spirit Card,” an original, personal expression that illustrates their interpretation of the meaning of Olympic Spirit. Instructions for participation are available online at the DHL U.S. Olympic Spirit micro site (www.dhl-usa.com/olympicspirit/). DHL will continue to provide teachers who sign up on the DHL Olympic Spirit micro site or by email (spirit.cards@dhl.com) with free pre-paid DHL ShipReady (TM) packaging to submit their students’ Spirit Cards free of charge through January 13, 2006. In late January, DHL will deliver all “Spirit Cards” created by U.S. school children to Torino, Italy, where they will be available for the 2006 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams to view upon their arrival.

The DHL U.S. Olympic Spirit Cards Contest, which ends on Friday, December 16, will award a total of four (4) regional Grand Prize winners with a trip to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Spirit Awards Delivered by DHL award ceremony in May 2006, and will also have their “Spirit Cards” framed and displayed at the U.S. Olympic Committee’s business and hospitality center in Torino, known as USA House, throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Eligibility for the Grand Prize requires that entries must be received by DHL by the original close of submissions, December 16, 2005. All students who submit “Spirit Cards” after December 16, 2005, but prior to January 13, 2006, will have their “Spirit Cards” shipped to Italy via DHL and will also receive commemorative DHL-U.S. Olympic lapel pins and certificates of participation. Official rules, judging information and instructions for participation in the DHL U.S. Olympic Spirit Cards Contest are available online at the DHL U.S. Olympic Spirit micro site (www.dhl-usa.com/olympicspirit/).

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