Athlete Stipends and Support Programs

Athlete Stipends and support programs are generally granted to athletes with proven success in Olympic or Paralympic Games, World Championships, Para World Championships or who have potential to medal in these events. Athlete Stipends will only be provided to athletes who are currently training and competing.

ATHLETE STIPENDSFunded Short-Term Training

Athlete Ombuds

The Office of the Athlete Ombuds offers independent, confidential advice to elite athletes regarding their rights and responsibilities in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and assists athletes with a broad range of questions, disputes, complaints and concerns.

Athlete Ombuds Confidentiality and Privacy Policy:

1. The Athlete Ombuds maintains as confidential any information communicated or provided in confidence in any matter involving the exercise of their official duties.
2. The Athlete Ombuds will not testify or produce evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding with respect to any matter involving the exercise of their official duties.
3. The Athlete Ombuds treats all work product, memoranda, notes or case files as confidential. Such information is not subject to discovery, subpoena, or other means of legal  compulsion, and is not admissible as evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding. 
4. The Athlete Ombuds maintains and prepares data and/or reports in a manner that protects confidentiality and privacy. 
5. These confidentiality and privacy provisions shall not apply to:
   1. Information necessary to communicate, mediate or resolve a concern or dispute, with the permission of the athletes involved;
   2. Applicable reporting requirements under federal law and/or the policies of the U.S. Center for SafeSport;
   3. A felony personally witnessed;
   4. A situation in which an individual is at imminent risk of serious harm;
   5. A congressional subpoena;
   6. The general operation and processes of the Athlete Ombuds; and/or
   7. Responding to an official investigation or allegation concerning the conduct of the Athlete Ombuds in exercising its official duties.
6. The Athlete Ombuds maintains these confidentiality and privacy provisions on their website and distributes to employees of each National Governing Body (NGB) and the USOPC.
7. Each NGB shall publish these confidentiality and privacy provisions on its website and communicate to athletes their availability. 

Retaliation Definition:

As defined in Section 220501(b)(11) of the Act, any adverse or discriminatory action, or the threat of an adverse or discriminatory action, including removal from a training facility, reduced coaching or training, reduced meals or housing, and removal from competition carried out against a Protected Individual as a result of any communication, including the filing of a formal complaint, by the Protected Individual or a parent or legal guardian of the Protected Individual relating to the allegation of physical abuse, sexual harassment, or emotional abuse, with the United States Center for SafeSport; a coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or official associated with the USOPC; the United States Attorney General; a federal or state law enforcement authority; the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission; or Congress. 

Retaliation also refers to any adverse or discriminatory action, or the threat of an adverse or discriminatory action, against any person who in good faith reports misconduct, and/or violations of the USOPC’s or NGBs’ Bylaws, policies, and procedures. Athletes who disclose information to or seek assistance from the Office of the Athlete Ombuds are also protected from retaliation as set forth in Section 22509(b)(5) of the Act. 

Retaliation Protection:

Athletes are afforded certain protections against retaliation including that no employee, contractor, agent, volunteer, or member of the USOPC shall take or threaten action against an athlete as a reprisal for disclosing information to or seeking assistance from the Office of the Athlete Ombuds. Athletes should report instances of retaliation  to USOPC Ethics and Compliance. 

Other ATHLETE RESOURCES

• Veteran Monthly Assistance Allowance for Disabled Veterans Training in Paralympic and Olympic Sports Program (VMAA)
• COVID Athlete Assistance Fund
• Mental Health
• High Performance Programs
• Medical
• Financial Resources
• Anti-Doping
• Career and Education
• Athlete Ombudsman
• USOPC Advisory Council
• Marketing