Rochester, N.Y., -- The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) have joined for the 11th consecutive year to form the Team Xerox Olympian Program.

Team Xerox Olympians travel around the country to speak with business, civic and youth groups, as well as to attend special events and Olympic fund-raisers. Xerox funds the athletes' appearances at these events as part of its corporate commitment to help support local communities. In addition, all money raised by the program goes directly to the U.S. Olympic Team.

"Efforts like the Team Xerox Olympian Program help to carry the dreams of America's Olympic hopefuls and integrate the Olympic ideals into local communities," said Matt Mannelly, chief marketing officer, U.S. Olympic Committee. "Xerox has been an outstanding long-term partner of the Olympic Movement and effectively uses its corporate commitment to positively impact America's athletes."

Created in 1990 by the USOC and Xerox to help underwrite the participation of Olympic athletes at U.S. Olympic Committee fund-raising events, the program has continued to expand its community reach and reputation. To date, it has raised more than $6 million to help athletes train for Olympic competition.

This year's roster features 11 Olympic stars:

• Three athletes training for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games: Eric Bergoust, 1998 gold medalist in freestyle skiing-aerials; Jimmy Shea, 1999 world champion in skeleton (head-first sledding); and Jean Racine, the world's top-ranked female bobsled driver.
• Three gold medalists from the 2000 Olympic Summer Games: Stacy Dragila, world record holder and pole vault champion; Dot Richardson, two-time gold medalist in softball; and Dain Blanton, a member of the two-man beach volleyball team that upset the top-ranked team in the world for the gold medal.
• Five Olympians returning to the Team Xerox Olympian program from previous years: Bart Conner, 1984 gold medalist in gymnastics; John Naber, 1976 gold and silver medalist in swimming; Cathy Turner 1992, 1994 and 1998 gold, silver and bronze medalist in short track speedskating; Cammi Granato, captain of the 1998 gold-medal winning women's ice hockey team; and Bonnie St. John Deane, 1984 silver and bronze medalist in skiing at the Paralympic Games.