P&G have also launched their own Team USA Youth Sports Fund, and have set a goal of raising $500,000 (£315,000/€383,000) through this summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Earlier this year P&G, a Worldwide Olympic sponsor, announced a $5 million (£3 million/€4 million) investment in youth sport.

P&G are also donating a dollar to the fund for every "like" on their Facebook Page.


The company hope to give children better access to sports through the fund, which ties in with the "Thank you, Mom" campaign they have run ahead of this summer's Games.

The campaign is to ensure mums have the chance to watch their sons or daughters compete in London this summer.

The athletes selected by P&G, including 100 metres runner Gay, who will hope to dethrone Usain Bolt this summer, and 14-time Olympic gold medal winning swimmer Phelps, will represent 13 of the company's brands.

Gay will represent Gillette, Phelps Head and Shoulders and Eaton, who set a heptathlon world indoor points record last month, will be a face of the overall P&G brand.

The other 28 athletes include the likes of Olympic wrestling gold medal winner Henry Cejudo and quadruple Olympic gold medallist Janet Evans.


"As both a mum and an athlete, I am proud to be affiliated with the P&G 'Thank you, Mom' campaign and the Pampers brand to celebrate mums of Team USA athletes and moms across the country," said Kerri Walsh (pictured), who won beach volleyball gold at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

"The support of Team USA and youth sports by P&G and its brands brings this commitment to life in an impactful way."

As well as P&G, Gillette, and Head and Shoulders, the athletes selected will represent Tide, Pantene, Covergirl, Metamucil, Oral Care, Pampers, Duracell, Bounty, Beauty Scale and Secret.

"When I was a kid, I had so much fun playing all different sports, such as soccer and surfing," said Ryan Lochte, a six-time Olympic swimming medallist.

"Having the opportunity to try diverse activities gave me the confidence I needed to achieve my dreams later on in life, especially at the Olympic Games.

"That's why P&G's support of the P&G Team USA Youth Sports Fund is so important."

P&G sponsor more than 150 athletes around the world, and of the athletes they have announced sponsorship for, they have claimed 375 international medals between them.


P&G also have a number of international brand ambassadors already on their team, including British former heptathlon world champion Jessica Ennis (pictured), a strong candidate for gold this summer, and cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, the Olympic hosts' most successful athlete in Beijing four years' ago when he picked up three gold medals.

They also sponsor 16 time Grand Slam tennis champion Roger Federer and Lin Dan, the Chinese badminton star who is the only player to win all nine major titles in the sport.

"On behalf of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), I'd like to thank P&G for supporting and promoting the incredible athletes of the US Olympic and Paralympic Team," USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun said.

"We are also grateful for P&G's commitment to youth sports through the P&G Team USA Youth Sports Fund.

"Providing young people greater access to sports will help develop the next generation of athletes and spread the Olympic Values of excellence, friendship and respect."

Jodi Allen, vice-president of North American operations and marketing at P&G, commented: "Behind every amazing athlete is an even more amazing mum.

"P&G is in the business of helping moms do whatever it takes to make her child's life the best it can be.

"In support of our 'Thank you, Mom' campaign, together with Team USA, we are making a commitment to those people who matter most to mums – their kids – through the creation of the P&G Team USA Youth Sports Fund."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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