I am very honored to partner with the Kellogg's Champions of Great Starts program as a featured blogger for Team Kellogg's.
Why? Really? Okay, let me think.
[one beat, two beats]
Dude, this Jersey girl and self-proclaimed professional dork got to hang out with U.S. Olympians!
Honestly, how many times is cool stuff like this going to happen? To a dork like me, anyway?
Also, Kellogg's is "an official sponsor" of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and read on for more on why I felt the need to capitalize, include quotation marks and make sure that "an official sponsor" reads nice and bold.
First, feel free to click here to read more about Day 1 of my visit to the U.S. Olympic training facility in Chula Vista, CA.
TODAY: 65 days away from the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, I am very excited to be able to take you on a walking tour of the U.S. Olympic Team's Training Camp in Chula Vista, CA.
The good folks representing Kellogg's were kind enough to fly me into California the day before the event was to take place and I really enjoyed having the WHOLE day to unwind, decompress and adjust my internal clock. I live in Jersey, enough said.
Turning the corner off of Olympic Highway, I could NOT help but feel...THIS IS IT!...now we were in for something REAL special.
My jaw literally dropped, right in the middle of a very lovely conversation I was having with the uber-lovely Ana Flores, because we don't have Chulas THIS BIG in Jersey.
The USOC's training facility is located in the second largest city within the metro-San Diego area: however, you would never know it from all the open space and getting around was fun, considering some of the Kellogg's folks (ahem!) drive like they could be...you know...from Jersey.
Chula Vista is one of several USOC training centers including: Colorado Springs, CO, Lake Placid, NY and U.S. Olympic/Paralympic Training Sites.
We were treated to breakfast and lunch in the Olympic training center's cafeteria which, as you can imagine, is a very popular gathering place for athletes powering up or recovering from training for their event(s).
The menu, as you can also imagine, is carefully prepared and nutritional information is posted alongside each of the choices available for that meal/day. Including Kellogg's cereals, as they are an official sponsor of the USOC, of course.
SIDENOTE: I also noticed that restaurants and fast food chains in California post nutritional information alongside each of the items listed on their menus, as well.
Perhaps other states (i.e. my homestate of New Jersey) should adopt this practice, as a way to help consumers keep ourselves accountable for our food intake, although it would make eating out a lot less fun, which could also be a good thing.
One of my favorite areas was the family room-type media center where athletes can go to unwind, relax and play a game of Foosball or reconnect with family and friends on the internet and read a few really awesome blogs (AHEM!) even.
I can personally vouch for the comfyness (yes, it's a word!) of the chairs and sofas (or couches, if you're from Jersey!) and air-conditioning.
Chula Vista opened in 1995 and athletes train year round here for warm-weather Olympic sports, including: volleyball, archery, track and field (click to enlarge pictures above) as well as canoe, kayak, cycling, field hockey, rowing and soccer.
THE U.S. IS THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT RECEIVE STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THEIR OLYMPIC ATHLETES: which means the USOC relies almost exclusively on private sponsorships, public fund-raising and licensing the use of the Olympic marks.
THEN THERE'S AMBUSH MARKETING: It's an exciting time and some companies take advantage of our interest in helping to support our U.S. Olympic athletes by building ad campaigns around Olympic themes.
THE DOWNSIDE: It gives consumers (like you and me) the impression that the company MUST have some official association with the USOC or lead us to believe that they are indeed a sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team. It's called "ambush" or "parasite" marketing.
THE UPSIDE: I now know to look for the "proud sponsor logo" to be sure that the company has a vested interest in helping U.S. Olympic Athletes.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Here is a list of Team USA Official Worldwide and Domestic Sponsors and Licensees.
Enough said. For now, anyways. I remain committed in helping to share more about the Champions of Great Starts with continued stories of:
- A sneak peek at upcoming Kellogg's intiatives.
- A roundtable discussion on nutrition.
- My interview with Rita Wieber (mom of Olympic hopeful Jordyn Wieber) in full make up, in front of a camera and everything.
Which I will be more than happy to post...on another day...because, truth be told, I'm still trying to recover...we're only about two-thirds through ALL the stuff we did...which already translates to roughly 900 words...60 words over my last post...and, well, you're welcome!
© 2003 - 2012 This Full House
Disclosure: I am honored to partner with Kellogg's in helping families (like mine) achieve great starts to their days. I am being compensated for my services for the length of the program. Kellogg's also paid for all travel and lodging expenses, as well as keeping us very well fed, for this event.
