Home Depot's 33 associates qualify for 2006 US Olympic Games
01 Feb '06
3 min read
The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer and leading employer of US Olympic and Paralympic athletes, has reported that a record 33 associates have earned a place on the US Olympic Team and will compete in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.
The Home Depot athletes will represent Team USA in such sports as luge, bobsled, freestyle skiing, speedskating and curling.
Through its sponsorship of the US Olympic Committee's Olympic Job Opportunities Program (OJOP), The Home Depot allows US Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls to work part time in exchange for full-time compensation and benefits. The program helps to accommodate the athletes' busy training and competition schedules while offsetting their expenses.
Currently, more than 200 US Olympic and Paralympic athletes and hopefuls are employed by The Home Depot. Since 1992, The Home Depot associates have accounted for nearly 11 percent of all medals won by Team USA.
Tom Taylor, Executive VP of Merchandising and Marketing, The Home Depot, said, "We are proud to empower so many associates to achieve their dreams of competing in the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on behalf of The Home Depot and our nation."
"I speak for all 345,000 associates in saying to our OJOP athletes, 'You can do it, and we are proud to help," Taylor added.
Since 1992, The Home Depot has employed more than 500 athletes through OJOP. To date, 283 athlete-associates have competed in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, earning a total of 171 medals: 75 gold, 59 silver and 37 bronze.
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