Olympic Hopeful: USOC Denies High School’s Name Request

The USOC has denied the Sweetwater Union High School District’s request to name its new high school — located about two miles from the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California — “Olympic High School,” according to Chris Moran of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. In a letter denying permission to name the school Olympic High, the USOC stated that it is “protecting the rights of sponsors such as Coca-Cola because Sweetwater has a long-term contract with [PepsiCo]. Overuse of the Olympic name diminishes its value to sponsor[s] and possibly limits funding to support athletes.” School district Assistant Superintendent Ramon Leyba said that the USOC and the district “are negotiating the name” and that it “appears that Sweetwater will be authorized to name the school Olympic Vista High.” Moran reports the USOC in ’97 allowed the city of Chula Vista to rename East Orange Avenue as Olympic Parkway on the condition that it “prevent the proliferation of the unlawful use of the word ‘Olympic’ by businesses and developments proximate to or on Olympic Parkway.” The Chula Vista Elementary School District has an Olympic View Elementary School, which is also near the Training Center and required USOC approval (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/7).