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On the campus of Northern Michigan University is the first and only Olympic Training Center program dedicated to provide Olympic aspiring athletes, primarily in non-NCAA sports, the opportunity to continue their educations while training to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games. In 1985, the U.S. Olympic Committee originally designated NMU an Olympic Training Center. In recognition of its special role in educating Olympic athletes, the university was re-designated as the nation's only Olympic Education Center in 1989.
The USOEC is situated on the southern shore of Lake Superior in the city of Marquette, Michigan. Currently, there are approximately 80 resident athletes and coaches living and training at the USOEC. These athletes are training in the sports of boxing, short track speedskating, Greco-Roman wrestling, women's freestyle wrestling, and weightlifting. A number of other sports periodically conduct training camps and competitions at the USOEC, including ice hockey, cycling, and volleyball.
Since the USOEC program opened in 1985, more than 25,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from 43 countries have participated in USOEC programs and training opportunities in 30 different sports, ranging from archery to wrestling. These athletes have won more than 70 Olympic medals.
However, it is the educational opportunities the USOEC provides Olympic aspiring athletes that makes the program truly unique. USOEC athletes have achieved high school diplomas and college degrees, ranging from one-year certificates to master's degrees. The USOEC also offers the Olympic Bridging Program. This program assists retired Olympic or Pan American athletes in making a transition from sport to career through education achievement.
Northern Michigan University
NMU's relationship with the USOEC is what separates the program from other Olympic Training Centers. The university provides a wide array of world-class training facilities and services to support the USOEC student athletes. In addition to waiving out-of-state tuition fees (approved students athletes are charged in-state tuition), USOEC students are provided academic counseling, tutoring, and other services as necessary to help them achieve success.
One of the most important benefits of the USOEC is the opportunity for athletes to live balanced lives. They can attend student activities, sporting events, presentations and performances as a normal part of the college experience while establishing lifelong friendships with other NMU students.
Facilities
Superior Dome
The USOEC is headquartered within NMU's Superior Dome, the world's largest wooden dome. The Dome covers 5.1 acres under one roof, with a diameter of 536 feet and is 15 stories (156 feet) high. The Dome features the world's largest single piece of artificial turf for football and soccer, and seats 8,000 spectators for these events.
The facility also includes three basketball courts, two tennis courts, and a 200-meter eight-lane rubberized running track, locker rooms, sauna, concessions, 100 seat theater, and staff offices. In addition, within the Dome are dedicated training facilities for the USOEC student athletes include the following:
* Boxing Training Gymnasium contains one competitive ring, several heavy bags, upper-cut bags, speed bags, and a computerized heavy bag used to analyzed punching power;
* Wrestling Room with two full competition mats, exercise bikes, four rope-climbing stations, and throwing dummies;
* Strength and Conditioning Weight Room contains five lifting platforms, free weights, two dumbbell stations/racks, plyometric-boxes, stability balls, and variable resistance machines;
* Sports Medicine Clinic, contains a hydrotherapy room, training tables, ice machine, doctor's office, and athletic trainer's office; and
* Olympic Weightlifting Facility.
PEIF Athletic Complex
The Superior Dome is attached to the PEIF Athletic Complex. This facility features six basketball courts, a volleyball arena with seating for approximately 1,000 spectators, seven racquetball courts, a large recreational weight room, an indoor tennis court, an eight-lane swimming pool with a separate diving tank and a rock climbing wall.
BerryEvents Center
Attached to the PEIF Athletic Complex is the Berry Events Center. The BEC includes an Olympic- size ice rink with 15 suites and seating for 3,800 people in individual seats with arm and backrests. The facility also includes a dedicated locker room for USOEC short track speedskaters and six other locker rooms for visiting teams. It is also equipped with an electronic timing/photo- finish system and a digital results display board. Two short track speedskating world records were set in this facility at the 2003 World Cup, and the facility was the site of the 2006 U.S. Short Track Championships, which determined the 2006 Olympic team.
This years world cup was here also.
The USOEC is situated on the southern shore of Lake Superior in the city of Marquette, Michigan. Currently, there are approximately 80 resident athletes and coaches living and training at the USOEC. These athletes are training in the sports of boxing, short track speedskating, Greco-Roman wrestling, women's freestyle wrestling, and weightlifting. A number of other sports periodically conduct training camps and competitions at the USOEC, including ice hockey, cycling, and volleyball.
Since the USOEC program opened in 1985, more than 25,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from 43 countries have participated in USOEC programs and training opportunities in 30 different sports, ranging from archery to wrestling. These athletes have won more than 70 Olympic medals.
However, it is the educational opportunities the USOEC provides Olympic aspiring athletes that makes the program truly unique. USOEC athletes have achieved high school diplomas and college degrees, ranging from one-year certificates to master's degrees. The USOEC also offers the Olympic Bridging Program. This program assists retired Olympic or Pan American athletes in making a transition from sport to career through education achievement.
Northern Michigan University
NMU's relationship with the USOEC is what separates the program from other Olympic Training Centers. The university provides a wide array of world-class training facilities and services to support the USOEC student athletes. In addition to waiving out-of-state tuition fees (approved students athletes are charged in-state tuition), USOEC students are provided academic counseling, tutoring, and other services as necessary to help them achieve success.
One of the most important benefits of the USOEC is the opportunity for athletes to live balanced lives. They can attend student activities, sporting events, presentations and performances as a normal part of the college experience while establishing lifelong friendships with other NMU students.
Facilities
Superior Dome
The USOEC is headquartered within NMU's Superior Dome, the world's largest wooden dome. The Dome covers 5.1 acres under one roof, with a diameter of 536 feet and is 15 stories (156 feet) high. The Dome features the world's largest single piece of artificial turf for football and soccer, and seats 8,000 spectators for these events.
The facility also includes three basketball courts, two tennis courts, and a 200-meter eight-lane rubberized running track, locker rooms, sauna, concessions, 100 seat theater, and staff offices. In addition, within the Dome are dedicated training facilities for the USOEC student athletes include the following:
* Boxing Training Gymnasium contains one competitive ring, several heavy bags, upper-cut bags, speed bags, and a computerized heavy bag used to analyzed punching power;
* Wrestling Room with two full competition mats, exercise bikes, four rope-climbing stations, and throwing dummies;
* Strength and Conditioning Weight Room contains five lifting platforms, free weights, two dumbbell stations/racks, plyometric-boxes, stability balls, and variable resistance machines;
* Sports Medicine Clinic, contains a hydrotherapy room, training tables, ice machine, doctor's office, and athletic trainer's office; and
* Olympic Weightlifting Facility.
PEIF Athletic Complex
The Superior Dome is attached to the PEIF Athletic Complex. This facility features six basketball courts, a volleyball arena with seating for approximately 1,000 spectators, seven racquetball courts, a large recreational weight room, an indoor tennis court, an eight-lane swimming pool with a separate diving tank and a rock climbing wall.
BerryEvents Center
Attached to the PEIF Athletic Complex is the Berry Events Center. The BEC includes an Olympic- size ice rink with 15 suites and seating for 3,800 people in individual seats with arm and backrests. The facility also includes a dedicated locker room for USOEC short track speedskaters and six other locker rooms for visiting teams. It is also equipped with an electronic timing/photo- finish system and a digital results display board. Two short track speedskating world records were set in this facility at the 2003 World Cup, and the facility was the site of the 2006 U.S. Short Track Championships, which determined the 2006 Olympic team.
This years world cup was here also.
