Athletics Veritas is a weekly series aimed at helping higher education executives, faculty, and other stakeholders stay tuned in on trending national issues impacting college athletics, especially NCAA Division I. Athletics Veritas is created by senior DI athletic administrators around the nation.
Term-in-Ology: Operation Gold Grant
With the 2022 Olympic Winter Games beginning this month in China, it’s worth noting that many prospects and current college athletes are representing Team USA and have the opportunity to earn additional income depending on their place finish per the Operation Gold Grant program, as NCAA amateurism rules permit prospects and current student athletes to accept funds from such programs.
An individual (prospective student-athlete or student-athlete) may accept funds that are administered by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee pursuant to its Operation Gold program. Funds administered by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee pursuant to its Operation Gold Grant program shall not be included when determining the cost of attendance for a student-athlete.
According to Teamusa.org, Operation Gold Awards are designed to reward athletes for top-place finishes in a sport’s most competitive senior international competition of the year (i.e. the Olympic and Paralympic Games in even-numbered years and typically world championship/world cup events in non-Games years).
Beginning in 2017, the USOPC increased Operation Gold payments for medal performances at the Olympic and Paralympic Games by 50 percent, increasing its overall quad budget by approximately $3.5 million. Additionally, Operation Gold payments for non-Games competitions increased by 25 percent. Combined, the enhanced funding to athletes resulted in a $4.8 million increase in the USOPC’s quad budget.
Olympic & Paralympic Games Operation Gold payments are awarded at these levels:
Athletics Veritas is presented for information purposes only and should not be considered advice or counsel on NCAA compliance matters. For guidance on NCAA rules and processes, always consult your university’s athletics compliance office, conference office, and/or the NCAA.
