NBC to Air U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony August 3

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 24, 2008)

USA Shooting’s Lones W. Wigger, Jr. was part of the distinguished Class of 2008 that was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Presented by Allstate on June 19 in Chicago. The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2008 is comprised of nine Olympians, one Paralympian, an Olympic Coach, Veteran, Team and Special Contributor.

NBC, broadcast home of the Olympic Games through 2012, will serve as the network host for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Presented by Allstate. The made-for-television was recorded on June 19 during the awards ceremony at the Harris Theater in Chicago, and will be aired Sunday, August 3, 2008 on NBC from 1:30pm to 3:00pm ET.

As part of the broadcast coverage, viewers will be treated to competition footage as well as insights from friends and competitors of the honored legends who will be inducted into the exclusive group of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic greats.

"Having the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame broadcast again on NBC continues what we believe to be an excellent platform to recognize the great accomplishments of some of America's most recognized sports heroes," said USOC Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr. "With the Beijing Olympic Games just days after the 2008 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame broadcast airing, this summer's Olympic-oriented programming will be some of the most watched in history."

Longtime sports journalist Jim Lampley will again serve as the master of ceremonies for the induction. Lampley is a stalwart in the Olympic Movement's broadcast circles, and the Beijing Games will mark his 14th Olympic Games assignment.

Seventy-year-old Wigger (Colorado Springs, Colo.), a rifle shooter, whose career spanned 25 years, is a three-time Olympian, having competed at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico and the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, where he won a combined two gold and one silver medals. In addition, he qualified for the 1980 Olympic Team.

Wigger also competed on five Pan American Games teams, where he won five silver and 13 gold medals. During his shooting career, Wigger won 111 medals and set 29 world records in international competition, more than any other shooter in the world. He is a member of the USA Shooting Hall of Fame and was also honored in 1996 by the USOC as a “Golden Olympian.” A retired Army Lt. Col., Wigger is a two-tour Vietnam Veteran and spent 25 years on active duty.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and especially to represent the shooting sports,” said Wigger. “I am overwhelmed and can’t hardly believe it. I would like to thank everyone who voted for me and supported me.”

Presenting the Hall of Fame honor to Wigger at the induction ceremony was his son, Major Ron Wigger, who is the Army rifle coach and two-time National "Coach of the Year."

Along with Wigger, the outstanding 2008 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class inducted as individuals included wrestler Bruce Baumgartner, athletics athlete Joan Benoit, figure skater Brian Boitano, boxer Oscar de La Hoya, volleyball player Karch Kiraly, equestrian J. Michael Plumb, basketball athlete David Robinson, swimmer Amy Van Dyken, and Paralympic swimmer John Morgan. Figure skating coach Carlo Fassi was inducted in the Coach category along with Olympic figure skating gold medalist Carol Heiss Jenkins in the Veteran category. The members of the 1996 Women’s Gymnastics Team – Amanda Borden, Amy Chow, Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, Jaycie Phelps and Kerri Strug – were also honored in the Team category, as will legendary Hollywood producer Frank Marshall as the Special Contributor.

About the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame was established in 1979 to celebrate the achievements of America’s premier athletes in the modern Olympic Games. The first U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame class was inducted in 1983 during ceremonies in Chicago. That Charter Class, which included Olympic Greats such as Jesse Owens, Jim Thorpe and Cassius Clay, remains the largest group (20 individuals and one team) ever inducted. In 2004, after a 12-year hiatus, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame was revived through the support of the Allstate Insurance Company as the presenting sponsor.

To date, 213 athletes (including seven U.S. teams), coaches, and 13 special contributors to the U.S. Olympic Movement have been enshrined in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. From the Charter Class of 1983 to the 2008 inductees, Hall members represent an American honor roll of athletic ambassadors representing the ideals of brotherhood and fair play.

For more information on the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, please visit www.usolympichalloffame.com

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