Dairy and MilkPEP will sponsor Olympic athletes for first time
Milk has always played a role in fueling athletes. And now, for the first time, milk is also an official sponsor of Team USA.
Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) CEO Julia Kadison announced Milk Life has entered into a five-year sponsorship contract with the U.S. Olympic Committee. While chocolate milk has sponsored U.S. swimming, this is the first time white milk will be represented in the Olympics.
"Milk has always been there, powering the potential of athletes. Now, the industry is proud to officially support the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams," says Kadison, who heads MilkPEP for the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. "This is a gamechanging partnership for our industry and an opportunity for local milk companies to continue to support their communities all year long. I can't think of a better partner for milk, with its protein and nutrient package, than Team USA."
Through the agreement, Milk Life will support the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams through the Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games as an official sponsor.
U.S. Olympic Committee officials say milk is a staple beverage for athletes in training, and the committee is excited to have partners in the dairy industry.
"U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes working to achieve their goal of representing Team USA rely on good nutrition and a balanced diet as key elements of their training regimens," says Lisa Baird, USOC chief marketing officer. "Milk is already a staple at the U.S. Olympic Training Centers and we are thrilled to add milk to our family of official partners as we celebrate the road to Rio and beyond."
The Milk Life campaign, funded by members of the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board, is intended to educate consumers about the nutritional benefits of milk. The sponsorship includes a national and local marketing campaign in support of Team USA in 2016, and running through the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
