Opportunity To Participate
Team USA athletes have rights and protections related to the opportunity to qualify to participate in protected competitions.
The Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and the United States Olympics & Paralympic Committee Bylaws (Found on our Governance Documents Page) extend certain obligations on National Governing Bodies and on the USOPC to protect that opportunity. This information is intended to focus on those athletes competing in Protected Competitions with some information applying more generally.
Team USA athletes have rights and protections around:
- Equal opportunity to participate
- Fair notice and opportunity for a hearing before they are declared ineligible to participate
- Athlete representation in the drafting and implementation of selection procedures
- Access to arbitration for any controversy involving the opportunity to participate in competition
More Information#
This information is intended to simplify and support Team USA athlete education around a complex system of rights and responsibilities within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Learn more about your rights as a Team USA athlete by referring to the applicable laws or governance documents.
Protected Competition: As defined in the USOPC Bylaws, Protected Competition means:
- Any Delegation Event
- the Olympic Games, the Olympic Winter Games, the Paralympic Games, the Paralympic Winter Games, the Pan American Games, and the Parapan Am Games;
A Qualifying Competition
NGB Qualifying Competition: Any competition or activity organized or approved by the NGB (e.g., team selection camp, tryout, national championship, Trials event) where the athlete’s performance or results are considered in the published selection criteria to represent the United States in a Delegation Event.
- International Qualifying Competition: Any international sport competition where (i) athletes represent the United States against athletes representing other nations, (ii) the NGB officially designates entrants, as required by the competition organizers, and (iii) athlete results or performance are included in the published criteria (i.e., International Federation qualification system or NGB selection criteria) to qualify, or be selected, to represent the United States in a Delegation Event.
USOPC Responsibilities
- Oversee NGB compliance through the NGB audit and certification policies and processes, including sport performance operations
- Approve NGB selection procedures for Delegation Events
- Establish and maintain provisions in its bylaws for the swift and equitable resolution of disputes involving any of its members and relating to an athlete’s opportunity to participate in protected competition (See Grievance & Dispute Resolution)
NGB Responsibilities
Protected Competitions:
- Provide an equal opportunity to participate without discrimination on the of race, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin
- Provide fair notice and opportunity for a hearing before declaring an athlete ineligible to participate
- Publish athlete participation criteria for all Protected Competitions
- Ensure that selection procedures are fair, clearly articulated in writing, properly communicated to athletes in a timely manner; and consistently applied
Delegation Events:
- Not have eligibility criteria more restrictive than the appropriate international federation
- Establish clear selection procedures that are approved by a Designated Committee and the USOPC, and are timely disseminated to athletes; effectively conduct a selection process in accordance with such selection procedures; and competently and timely recommend to the USOPC athletes, teams, and team officials as applicable