Bennet, Romney, Moran, Blumenthal Call on Administration to Support Team USA in Preparation for Upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games Amidst Pandemic

Pueblo – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Co-Chair of the Senate Olympics Caucus, and U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) urged the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist members of Team USA and support staff seeking to travel abroad in preparation for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

As a result of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, Team USA athletes and their National Governing Bodies (NGBs) have experienced setbacks while attempting to resume international travel in preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which have been rescheduled for next summer. As competitions and training events resume, Bennet and his colleagues urged the State Department to identify a point person to support Team USA athletes and their support staff to streamline the passport application and renewal process. The lawmakers also expressed concern over growing travel restrictions on American citizens, such as the European Union’s (EU) travel ban on Americans, and encouraged the State Department to seek a waiver from this restriction for Team USA. DHS has already approved more than 1,700 exemptions for foreign professional athletes traveling to the U.S. The senators are requesting similar treatment for American athletes contending with global travel restrictions. 

“International travel is critical for Team USA to continue on their qualification paths toward the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games,” wrote the Senators. “We recognize the challenging nature of the current situation and request that the State Department work with Team USA to ensure they are ready and able to compete on behalf of our nation.”

The full text of the letter is available HERE and below. 

Dear Secretary Pompeo, Acting Secretary Wolf, Director Redfield: 

We write to ask for your assistance in supporting Team USA athletes and their support staff in their efforts to qualify for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games and continued athletic success. As with most sectors of the economy, Team USA athletes and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) have been dramatically affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In support of Team USA’s continued efforts to qualify for the upcoming Games and continued athletic success, we would like to request your assistance for athletes and their support staff to ensure their ability to travel internationally this summer and this coming fall. 

We are pleased that the Department of State has entered phase one of the Diplomacy Strong reopening processes. Several Team USA athletes submitted applications for passport services just prior to or during the COVID-19 closures, and more must submit applications before the upcoming training season begins later this summer and this fall. As competitions and training events begin to resume, these athletes are approaching their target departure dates for international travel. While we recognize that exceptions to policies for expedited passports must be limited, we ask that the Department of State identify a point person to support Team USA athletes and their support staff to streamline the passport application and renewal process.  

It was also recently announced that the European Union (EU) is restricting travel on American citizens. We understand that negotiations are ongoing, but we ask that the Department of State specifically seek a waiver from this restriction for Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Before the end of 2020, Team USA is scheduled to compete in over 30 competitions in the EU. In addition to these events, many athletes and their support teams travel to Europe in advance of their season to participate in training opportunities, which is especially important to their health and safety as they increase their activity levels following COVID-19 related restrictions.

While the EU is a prominent example of global travel restrictions, we understand that Team USA will likely encounter similar policies in other nations as they compete internationally this season. We understand that the complexity of this environment may be best coordinated by the U.S. Embassies in each respective country and if so, we ask that the Department of State identify a point person to support Team USA athletes and their support staff to streamline outreach to Consular personnel in the requisite nations. 

We recognize that exceptions for U.S. athletes may be dependent on reciprocity exceptions for international athletes attempting to come to the U.S. for similar competitions. We understand that the U.S. has approved more than 1,700 exemptions for foreign professional athletes traveling to the U.S., and we are hopeful that this posture will encourage similar treatment for U.S. athletes contending with global travel restrictions. We appreciate DHS’s assistance and consideration for Olympic and Paralympic athletes and essential staff as exemptions develop. 

International travel is critical for Team USA to continue on their qualification paths toward the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games. We recognize the challenging nature of the current situation and request that the State Department work with Team USA to ensure they are ready and able to compete on behalf of our nation. 

Thank you for your attention to these urgent matters. 

Sincerely,