NEW YORK -

FOR RELEASE: June 21, 2001

Five-Time Olympic Gold Medal Winner Bonnie Blair Announces Two U.S. Athletes To Receive Vehicles To Help Support Their "First-Ever" Olympic Dream

Kicks off nationwide vehicle donation program that supports aspiring athletes

NEW YORK - Two U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls, brothers Joe and Brian McDonald of Kingston, NY, who aspire to become the first African-American men to ever win a medal at the Olympic Winter Games, helped kick-off a unique vehicle donation program today that supports aspiring athletes by providing them with vehicles to help support their Olympic dreams. The announcement came from five-time Olympic gold medal winner Bonnie Blair, who highlighted that the two brothers will receive vehicles as part of the Chevrolet The Team Behind The Team program.

The program is designed to help relieve some of the burdens that Olympic training can put on an athlete and his or her family. Including the McDonald brothers, a total of 40 aspiring U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls across the country will receive a Chevrolet vehicle in coming weeks to help support their preparation and training for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Selected athletes will be put behind the wheel of one of four new Chevrolet vehicles they can depend on to meet their daily transportation needs: a Tahoe, Silverado, Venture or Malibu. Vehicle assignments will be based on athlete training and transportation needs.

"Chevrolet is proud to continue its long history of supporting aspiring U.S. Olympic athletes through The Team Behind The Team vehicle donation program," said Mac Whisner, Chevrolet director of truck advertising and sales promotion. "The Team Behind The Team helps ease the burden many athletes and their families face in pursuit of their Olympic dreams, namely by providing athletes with the reliable and high quality transportation they need to compete and train."

"We all know the hard work and long hours it takes for an athlete to compete as an Olympian," said Blair, who is an Advisory Panel member of The Team Behind The Team. "However, the hardships faced by many aspiring Olympians often go beyond just a strenuous training schedule to include financial burdens. The Team Behind The Team program helps alleviate some of the financial strain that affects many athletes and their families."

Having a vehicle is essential in helping the McDonald brothers improve the chances of achieving their Olympic dream of becoming the first African-American men to achieve pinnacle status in their chosen sport. Joe, a 33-year-old bobsledder, will receive a Chevrolet Tahoe. He has never owned a car before. As a result, his only option for hauling his sleds had been to rent a truck. "Bobsledding is one of the most expensive amateur sports in the world," he said. "It has been a financial struggle for me to get this far. But having a truck for bobsledding has become a necessity."

Brian, 29, competes in the newest Olympic sport, skeleton, and was inspired by his older brother after watching him compete in the 1994 Olympic Winter Games. Brian owned a car until it was repossessed during the National Team Selection races last year. "I learned quickly that paying bills, buying new equipment, and affording living expenses is nearly impossible when you're gone for six months out of the year. I realized I would have to make sacrifices, but a vehicle is a must. These wheels will go a long way in helping me go after my dream," Brian said. "Being selected to receive a Chevy Silverado through this program makes me feel like someone really believes in me."

An Advisory Panel comprised of some of America's greatest U.S. Olympians selected the Chevrolet The Team Behind The Team athletes for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Representing this year's Advisory Panel are the following Olympic gold medalists: Speed skaters Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen; figure skaters Peggy Fleming and Kristi Yamaguchi; skier Phil Mahre and track and field athlete Evelyn Ashford.

U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls who were considered for one of the 40 Chevrolet vehicles submitted a detailed application consisting of financial information, competitive history and placements, and a short essay describing why they should be selected. Selection was based on financial need, training and competition requirements and qualification as a U.S. Olympic Team hopeful. Rankings were then tabulated to determine the recipients of the vehicles.

JK Group, Inc., an independent company that manages corporate philanthropic programs, was enlisted by Chevrolet to administer The Team Behind The Team selection process. Spearheading the development of the overall process, JK Group worked with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and National Governing Bodies of Sport to identify prospective U.S. Olympic Team hopefuls that would be eligible for the program.

Chevrolet, which is General Motors' lead division for the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games, has a long history of supporting the spirit of the Olympic Games through partnerships with many National Governing Bodies of Sport, including the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Association, U.S. Figure Skating Association and USA Hockey. These partnerships, along with The Team Behind The Team program and Chevrolet's role as a presenting sponsor of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay, elevate Chevrolet's commitment to providing transportation solutions for the Olympic Games.

The Team Behind The Team program was first established by General Motors in 1999 when it donated vehicles to 100 U.S. Olympic hopefuls who aspired to make the team for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Chevrolet is the largest division of General Motors, which is the official domestic automotive sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team through 2004. Headquartered in Detroit, Chevrolet fulfills the transportation needs of more than 36 million Americans daily -- more than any other manufacturer -- and offers the broadest lineup of cars, trucks and vans in the industry.