2021 Olympic athletes' families being given a trip to Universal Orlando during the Games

[NotUrsula]

The Wall St. Journal is reporting that the USOC has set up a sort of "remote cheering section" at Universal Orlando, and is offering each athlete a paid package for 2 family members. It honestly seems a bit strange to me; I would think that families who cannot go to the events themselves would be more likely to want to have a larger viewing party at home with extended family, but I guess this way they can cheer along with the loved ones of their athlete's teammates.

The Olympics offer allows each athlete to send two friends or family members to Orlando as part of a package that includes free round-trip airfare; four nights at NBCU’s Universal Orlando resort; a pair of three-day passes to three Universal theme parks; and access to an NBC/Team USA hospitality lounge for “four evenings of dinner + Olympic viewing experiences,” according to an invite circulated to athletes.

NBC will have cameras at both the Olympic and Paralympic viewing events. Molly Solomon, executive producer and president of NBC Olympics production, said organizers are hoping that “chants of USA! USA! will erupt each evening as these interested spectators band together to support their loved ones.”

There are four waves of Orlando trips spanning the 17 days between the July 23 opening and the Aug. 8 closing of the Games, so family members will come and go as their Olympians’ events happen. NBC Universal, Reese’s and Toyota are sponsoring the event with the USOPC, said Katie Bynum, USOPC chief strategy and growth officer.

The package for Paralympic athletes is a trip to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/team-u...ympics-orlando-11626200344?mod=hp_featst_pos4

 

[Wendy31]

The idea is very nice, but I’m kinda like you in that I would think the families would rather have a large viewing party w/ friends & family members at their home since they can’t be w/ their athletes in Tokyo.

If I were a parent of an Olympian, I’d also feel a little weird having a grand time in Universal for 3 days w/o the child who was busy competing in Tokyo.

 

[DisneyOma]

The Wall St. Journal is reporting that the USOC has set up a sort of "remote cheering section" at Universal Orlando, and is offering each athlete a paid package for 2 family members. It honestly seems a bit strange to me; I would think that families who cannot go to the events themselves would be more likely to want to have a larger viewing party at home with extended family, but I guess this way they can cheer along with the loved ones of their athlete's teammates.



The package for Paralympic athletes is a trip to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/team-u...ympics-orlando-11626200344?mod=hp_featst_pos4

Addressing the part I made red: I thought that there were absolutely no spectators at these Olympics, especially those from another country? So there will not be any families there at all? As I'm reading what you posted, it sounds like some families are going?

 

[wilbret]

NBC will have cameras on them to use for their coverage. “Fans”

 

[NotUrsula]

Addressing the part I made red: I thought that there were absolutely no spectators at these Olympics, especially those from another country? So there will not be any families there at all? As I'm reading what you posted, it sounds like some families are going?

The families are being invited to go to a special event in Orlando *instead* of going to Tokyo (which of course they cannot do, for just the reason you pointed out: Japan and the IOC will not allow in-person spectators at the Games.)

The idea is to set up a "family cheering section" for NBC's cameras at one of the Universal Orlando Resorts, and gather the US athletes' families there to watch the events on large screen in a private venue, so that NBC will have access to them for reaction shots and human interest stories. What they get in return for making themselves available that way is a 4 day trip to Universal.

It was not clear to me from the article if additional family members can attend the Orlando event if they pay their own way; the paid travel is limited to 2 guests per athlete. (Can be any 2 people the athlete chooses; friends are allowed in lieu of family members.)