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Home Depot: You Can Do It. We Can't Help.

Updated 6:16 PM EDT, Thu, Jan 8, 2009

Do it yourself: Home Depot is shelving their program of offering job to U.S. Olympians.

 

DENVER –– Home Depot, the company that offered jobs and benefits to U.S. Olympians, will discontinue that program after deciding not to renew its U.S. Olympic Committee sponsorship.

Company spokesperson Jean Niemi told The Associated Press that the big-box home store would no longer be a USOC sponsor. The last four-year deal was worth between $15 million and $20 million.

The most notable part of the Home Depot sponsorship was its Olympic Job Opportunity Program, which allowed Olympic athletes to work flexible hours and receive full-time benefits.

There are currently 86 athletes in the program. Niemi said they will all be given opportunities to continue their employment when the program officially ends March 2.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Washington

Comments (2)

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  • barry Friday, Jan 9 at 10:39 PM FLAG COMMENT HD did those atheletes right. You can talk HD down,but they catered to those guys and gals. Ask them! Times are tough and they all have jobs if they want them.
  • the doctor Thursday, Jan 8 at 9:46 PM FLAG COMMENT They dont have to be a USOC sponsor to do the right thing, but it is encouraging that some companies are dropping out of USOC sponsorship. Given the levels of corruption in many of the sports it is embarrasing to see the US as a major sponsor. Unless they clean up the officials and the judging ( ie saying the major sports federation is in charge is not sufficient), there is no point to having an olympics.

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