Will Continue Flying Team USA Through 2012

Will America's Best be forced to Buy-On-Board? United Airlines announced this week its plan to renew its sponsorship agreement with the US Olympic Committee through 2012, extending its 30-year partnership. As a result, United will remain the official airline sponsor of the US Olympic and Paralympic Teams, flying the athletes to Vancouver in 2010 and London in 2012.

"At United, we are proud to fly America's Olympic and Paralympic Teams and the many athletes who are pursuing their lifelong dreams," says Dennis Cary, senior vice president - Marketing. "Our sponsorship of the US Olympic Committee gives us an association with a partner that embodies many of the same qualities to which we aspire -- all on a global stage."

United provides air travel for America's Olympians and Paralympians, hopefuls, coaches, trainers and administrators to training events, national and international competitions, as well as to the world's biggest sporting events throughout the year. United also recently unveiled new television commercials during the Opening Ceremony and throughout the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

"We greatly value United's ongoing commitment to helping America's Olympic and Paralympic athletes," said US Olympic Committee Chief Marketing Officer Rick Burton. "National and international travel for the purpose of training and competition is essential to the development of athletes who ultimately represent our country at the Games, and we appreciate all that United does to make this possible."

And besides... in order to maintain their competitive edge, Olympic athletes probably shouldn't be eating things like complimentary inflight meals and snacks, anyway...

FMI: www.united.com, www.usoc.org