OSS Weightlifting Club, Inc.

A 26 U.S.C. §501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit, Tax-Exempt, Charitable Organization

America does not send athletes to the Olympics, Americans do and in America, no athlete should be denied the opportunity to compete in this great sport because of lack of funding.  Unfortunately, it happens quite often, dashing the hopes of athletes and preventing America’s talent from representing us on the world stage, which is a tragedy.  OSS Weightlifting Club was created to help prevent the financial barrier to fulfilling dreams and you can help with a tax-deductible gift.

Qualified Olympic weightlifting coaches are few and sparsely located yet athletes must have coaching and equipment to train.  Coaches must have adequate training facilities and meet the increasing costs for space.  Facilities must have adequate equipment, which must be kept in good repair.   Without your help, these costs must be passed on to the athlete so that coaches can continue operating yet many athletes simply cannot afford it and therefore cannot train.

The largest expense is often travel.  To work with a coach, qualify for and lift in regional, national and international meets, athletes often must incur travel costs including airfare and lodging.  Moreover, many athletes are minors and are accompanied by a parent.  Several times per year athletes may also train at weightlifting camps, which may incur travel and attendance costs.  Even if incurred only a few times per year, for athletes competing at the regional and national level, these costs are substantial and can impose a hardship.

For athletes training for the elite status of world-class competitor or an Olympian the financial demands are of course staggering.  An athlete will spend approximately 10,000 hours in training [1] and at peak training the average Olympian will spend six hours of training, six days per week for the immediate 12 months before an Olympiad.[2]  Moreover, most Olympians have been training for 11 years to get to the Games, which means that they must forego employment opportunities [3] yet they must meet expenses.

 But you can help!  OSS Weightlifting Club (“the WLC”) was created to assist its athletes in fulfilling their dreams by raising travel and training funds.  We are a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization designated by the Internal Revenue Service under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c) (3)[4].   OSS WLC exists to serve Olympic weightlifting athletes to which 100% of its time and funding is devoted.

Please make your tax-deductible donation[5] to OSS Weightlifting Club today.  No gift is too small and you’ll be proud to know that your donation will help us develop a new generation of America’s Olympic weightlifters to fulfill their dreams and bring home the gold.

[1] http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer-olympics/2012/11108-elite-athletes-spend-10000-hours-training-for-london-2012

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] USAW is recognized by USOC as the National Governing Body (”NGB”) for the sport of weightlifting in the United States.  In furtherance of that purpose, USAW complies with the requirements for recognition as an NGB as set forth in the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, 36 U.S.C. 220501 et seq (”Act”) and as mandated by the United States Olympic Committee as such requirements are promulgate.

[5] Donations are generally deductible under 26 U.S.C. §170. Consult your tax return preparer for rules regarding deductibility with respect to your return.