Northern Michigan University has received confirmation that the United States Olympic Committee will continue its support of the United States Olympic Education Center for another year. The USOEC is located on the NMU campus.

            According to Jeff Kleinschmidt, USOEC director, while the contract has not yet officially been renewed, NMU and the USOC have agreed to operate the USOEC under the terms of the old agreement with the USOC providing $300,000 of support to the center until June 30, 2010.

            “As most people who follow the Olympic movement are aware, the USOC has been impacted by the economic crisis in the same way that many businesses have and recently began a major review of all aspects of its organization, including all of the Olympic training centers. It is reorganizing its staff and strategizing on long-term plans for the organization and its various components, including the USOEC. In the midst of this major review, we are very pleased that the USOC will continue to provide funding to the USOEC so that operations can go on uninterrupted for the athletes and coaches.”

            Kleinschmidt said that USOC officials have indicated they will be working with the USOEC and NMU staff to develop a “long-term plan” for the center over the upcoming year.

            The USOEC has been a part of the NMU campus since 1985. It currently has five residential programs: boxing, freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, short-track speedskating and weightlifting. In fall 2009, the USOEC will serve as the host of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Short Track Speedskating (Sept. 8-12) and the Samsung ISU World Cup (Nov. 13-15).

            “NMU and the USOEC would like to thank Congressman Bart Stupak for the significant amount of time and effort he gave to work with the USOC in extending funding for the USOEC, as well as the support from Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin,” said NMU President Les Wong. “We value having the USOEC on the Northern campus, not only for the opportunity it provides for developing elite athletes, but for the many learning opportunities it provides our non-athlete student population. We thank the United States Olympic Committee for its continued support.” 

            For more information on the USOEC, go to www.nmu.edu/usoec. For more information on the USOC, go to www.usoc.org.