The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has announced an expanded partnership with an American pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly and Company.
This agreement makes Lilly the presenting sponsor for the upcoming U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Swimming, held in Indianapolis from June 15 to 23, 2024.
The enhanced partnership extends beyond the swimming trials. Lilly becomes an official partner of the “Making Team USA Presented by Xfinity” platform. This initiative highlights the inspiring journeys of American athletes vying for a spot in the Paris Olympics 2024 and Paris Paralympics 2024.
This expansion strengthens a relationship established in 2023, where Eli Lilly secured the official Team USA partner designation in prescription medicine and health equity through the LA28 Games.
Katie Bynum Aznavorian, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, said, “The pathway to making Team USA provides not only world-class competition in the form of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Trials, but also the opportunity to celebrate all of the incredible Team USA athletes who are following their dreams of representing the United States at the Paris Games. This expanded partnership with Lilly commemorates both the commitment and the celebration, and we are thrilled to work together with them to share and elevate these great Team USA moments – on and off the field of play – with fans in Indianapolis and around the country.”
Jennifer Oleksiw, Lilly’s Global Chief Customer Officer, said, “During next month’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming, Lilly looks forward to welcoming elite athletes and fans to Indianapolis where our company was founded nearly 150 years ago. As we celebrate the best swimmers in the country, Lilly is also collaborating with others to promote health and swim equity through support of the Swim IN Safety program. This initiative teaches water safety to the Indiana community, hopefully reducing the risk of drowning and increasing people’s confidence in the water.”
Dan Lovinger, President, Olympic and Paralympic Sales, NBCUniversal, said, “We are thrilled to be working with great partners like Lilly and Team USA to bring the incredible excitement of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming to a legion of Olympic fans as we head toward Paris. When sponsors lean into partnerships like these, it benefits the athletes, the NGBs, and the way people think of their brand.”
Shana Ferguson, Chief Commercial Officer of USA Swimming, said, “Putting three swimming pools in a football stadium is a feat never before attempted. With a stadium set to hold 30,000 spectators per session over the course of nine days and nights, this is the grandest selection event in the history of Olympic sport in the United States. We simply could not do it without partners who dream alongside us as we name the world’s fastest swim team and leave a lasting legacy of water safety and drowning prevention. Lilly answered the call for this year’s Trials in a massive way, and Indiana Sports Corp and USA Swimming are so grateful they share our vision.”
Meghan O’Leary, Director of Commercial Development and Innovation at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Properties (USOPP) and LA28 and two-time U.S. Olympian in rowing, said, “We’re thankful for Lilly’s commitment to the Movement and this next step in our partnership brings the organization more deeply into the Games journey, from its support of athletes with Making Team USA presented by Xfinity to its bespoke sponsorship with U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming in its hometown of Indianapolis.”
Through this expanded partnership, Lilly reaffirms its dedication to supporting Team USA athletes as they strive for Olympic and Paralympic glory. The prominent sponsorship of the swimming trials grants Lilly significant exposure during NBCUniversal’s televised coverage, allowing them to connect with a massive audience of sports fans.
Eli Lilly and Company, a leading American pharmaceutical company founded in 1876, is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. With offices in 18 countries and products sold in approximately 125 countries, Lilly has a global footprint. The company is also the official jersey patch partner for the Indiana Fever, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team.